Bermuda Grass (heavily infested with Common Purslane)
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season perennial (C4 grass), excels in transition and southern zones
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf and Pasture grass (currently functioning as an infested home lawn)
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (non-hybrid based on visible texture and weed susceptibility)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance; enters dormancy below 50°F; susceptible to winter kill in extreme cold.
About This Grass
A dense, fine-textured grass that turns straw-colored in winter. Currently suppressed by a thick infestation of Portulaca oleracea (Purslane), a succulent broadleaf weed.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine (2-3mm), gray-green, and sharply pointed. Vernation is folded, and the ligule is a fringe of white hairs with no auricles present.
Root System
Deep fibrous system with aggressive underground rhizomes and surface stolons; high thatch tendency and rapid establishment.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and Asia; widely adapted to the Southern United States and Australia
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and rhizomatous; highly aggressive mat-forming habit for rapid recovery
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (8+ hours); low water needs once established; high drought tolerance; prefers pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintain at 0.5 to 1.5 inches; frequent mowing needed to discourage weed canopy; high fertilization needs (2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year).
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance and salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; rapid recovery from drought or damage.
Ecological Information
Introduced in the US; provides soil stabilization; can be invasive in garden beds; often blended with Ryegrass for winter color.