Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (visible coarse texture and seed head habit suggest common variety or naturalized selection)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; high heat tolerance; goes dormant and turns brown below 50-60°F soil temperatures.
About This Grass
A low-growing, wiry, greyish-green grass that forms a dense sod. Mowed heights range from 0.5 to 2.5 inches. Unmowed, it produces finger-like (digitate) seed heads. It turns tan/brown during winter dormancy.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-4mm), flat or slightly folded, pointed tip, greyish-green to dark green, folded vernation. Ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep and extensive, utilizing both surface stolons and deep underground rhizomes. High thatch tendency, fast establishment, and excellent drought tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous; spreads rapidly to form a dense, aggressive mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6-8 hours); very poor shade tolerance. Low to moderate water needs once established; high drought tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 1.0-2.0 inches. High maintenance: frequent mowing, 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually, requires periodic dethatching (verticutting) and aeration.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear/traffic tolerance and rapid recovery speed. High salt tolerance. Susceptible to Large Patch and Spring Dead Spot. Extremely invasive in flower beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization for erosion control. Low wildlife value for most species; often considered a weed in non-turf agricultural settings.