Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass. Well-adapted to transition and tropical/subtropical zones.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (uncultivated wild-type or standard seeded varieties like 'Princess 77' or vegetative hybrids like 'Tifway 419')
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. Good heat tolerance, poor shade tolerance, goes completely dormant below 50°F.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine to medium-textured turf with a vibrant green color during the growing season. Turns straw-colored/tan when dormant in winter. Unmowed height reaches 6-12 inches with slender, digitately arranged raceme seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat to folded, pointed tips, gray-green to light green color. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles absent, collar is continuous with hairs.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system extending 2 to 6 feet deep, combined with extensive rhizomes and stolons. Rapid establishment from seed or sod, moderate to high thatch tendency, excellent drought tolerance and fast wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide. Naturalized throughout warm regions globally.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, wear-resistant turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (minimum 8-10 hours of direct sunlight). Moderate drought tolerance (goes dormant in severe drought). Requires regular watering for best appearance. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low to medium mowing height (0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid lawns, up to 2 inches for common). Requires frequent mowing during peak growth. High fertilizer requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance and traffic recovery, highly drought tolerant via dormancy, good salt tolerance, prone to weed invasion if under-fertilized, widely used on athletic fields and golf courses.
Ecological Information
Introduced in many parts of the world, can exhibit aggressive/weedy tendencies in agricultural settings. Provides soil stabilization and erosion control. Low wildlife food value compared to native grasses.