Bermudagrass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Chloridoideae, Tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; high heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance (dormant below 50°F); turns brown after the first hard frost.
About This Grass
A low-growing, wiry, dark green grass that forms a very dense sod. It turns straw-brown when dormant in winter. Seed heads are distinctive, featuring 3-7 finger-like spikes (digitately arranged) on stems up to 12 inches.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width is medium to coarse (2.0-4.0mm); hairless to sparsely hairy; tip is sharply pointed; vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with both underground rhizomes and surface stolons; high thatch-forming tendency; rapid establishment speed; excellent drought tolerance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
African origin; widely adapted throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Southern United States.
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and Stoloniferous; highly aggressive with rapid spreading and dense mat-forming tendencies.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours minimum); high drought tolerance once established; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0; moderate water needs.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintain at 1.0-2.0 inches for common varieties; frequent mowing needed during peak summer; fertilization 2-4 lbs Nitrogen/1000 sq ft/year; high maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance and recovery; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; excellent at crowding out most weeds due to high density.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; can be invasive in flower beds or gardens; serves as forage for livestock.