Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, highly heat tolerant, excellent transition zone suitability, goes dormant and turns brown during winter frosts.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda
About This Grass
Dense, fine to medium-textured turf with a grey-green to bright green color, forming a tight sod; can grow up to 6-12 inches if unmowed, featuring digitate seed heads with 2-6 spike-like branches.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are short, flat, 2-4mm wide, pointed tips, greyish-green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a fringe of hairs representing the ligule and absent auricles.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons, offering rapid establishment, excellent drought tolerance, and fast wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
East Africa, widely naturalized in tropical and warm temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressive, spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight), moderate watering once established but highly drought-tolerant, prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow low at 0.5 to 1.5 inches frequently, high maintenance level requiring 4-6 lbs of N per 1000 sq ft annually, regular dethatching and aeration due to rapid thatch buildup.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, excellent drought recovery, high salt tolerance, highly competitive against weeds, often used in athletic fields and home lawns.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides good erosion control on slopes, low wildlife nesting value compared to native prairie grasses, can act as an invasive agricultural weed in certain crop systems.