Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (Common types are coarser than hybrid varieties like Tifway 419)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11. Exceptional heat tolerance; enters dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 50°F. Limited cold tolerance compared to cool-season grasses.
About This Grass
A low-growing, wiry perennial grass that forms a dense sod. It is medium to dark green in color, turning straw-colored during winter dormancy. It features a fine to medium texture and distinctive finger-like (digitate) seed heads appearing in groups of 3-7.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (1.5-3mm), flat or slightly folded, with a sharply pointed tip. Vernation is folded. Ligule consists of a fringe of short white hairs; auricles are absent. The leaf surface often has sparse hairs, especially near the base.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with both rhizomes (underground) and stolons (above ground). Fast establishment; high thatch-forming tendency; excellent drought tolerance and rapid recovery from wear.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical and subtropical climates worldwide, inclusive of the US Transition Zone and Southern states
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and Stoloniferous; highly aggressive spreader forming a dense, durable mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires at least 6-8 hours); poor shade tolerance. Low to moderate water needs once established; prefers well-drained soil with pH 5.5 to 7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrids, 1.5 to 2.5 inches for common types. High maintenance: requires frequent mowing and high nitrogen fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). Needs periodic vertical mowing to manage thatch.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; highly drought resistant; high salt tolerance; fast recuperative potential. Susceptible to Large Patch and Spring Dead Spot; potential as an invasive weed in ornamental beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Provides soil stabilization for erosion control; moderate wildlife value for cover. Can be invasive in non-turf areas. Often blended with Ryegrass for winter color (overseeding).