Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (uncultivated wild-type or standard seeded varieties)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance, poor shade tolerance, and goes dormant below 50 degrees Fahrenheit
About This Grass
Forms a low-growing, dense turf with a fine to medium-coarse texture and a bright to grayish-green color, turning brown and going dormant during winter frosts; spreads rapidly to cover bare soil
Blade Characteristics
Blades are short, flat, grayish-green to medium green, tapering to a pointed tip; rolled in the bud (vernation); has a fringe of hairs in place of a distinct membranous ligule and lacks auricles
Root System
Deep, aggressive root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons; moderate to high thatch tendency; establishes quickly from seed or vegetative plugs and offers excellent wear recovery
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East Africa, widely naturalized and cultivated in tropical and warm-temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense mat or turf
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight); high drought tolerance once established due to deep roots; prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow frequently at 0.5 to 1.5 inches for optimal turf quality; high nitrogen requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); high maintenance level during active growing season
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, excellent drought recovery, high salt tolerance, poor shade tolerance, highly effective at controlling erosion and crowding out weeds
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on disturbed red clay soils; can behave invasively when encroaching into flower beds or native areas