Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda or hybrid variants like Tifway 419, known for fine texture and aggressive spreading
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10, with high heat tolerance and moderate cold tolerance (dormant below 50°F). Excellent for the transition zone and southern regions.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine to medium-textured turf with a blue-green to gray-green color during the active growing season. Goes dormant and turns straw-brown with the first heavy frost. Displays high wear tolerance and rapid lateral growth.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium in width (2-3mm), flat, with pointed tips. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Collars are continuous with hairs. Leaf blades often have prominent parallel veins.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system with extensive underground rhizomes and surface stolons. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency under high fertility and watering. Rapid establishment from seed, sprigs, or sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, now naturalized worldwide and widely cultivated in warm temperate to tropical climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, durable turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) and does not tolerate heavy shade. High drought tolerance through dormancy, but performs best with regular irrigation. Thrives in well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid varieties, up to 2 inches for common types. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season due to rapid growth. High fertilizer requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) for optimal color and density.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance with rapid recuperative ability from damage. Good salt tolerance and drought resistance. Prone to winter dormancy discoloration.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides excellent soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes and coastal areas. Can become weedy in flower beds or adjacent cool-season turf due to aggressive stolon and rhizome growth.