Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda or hybrid varieties like 'Tifway'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10, highly heat tolerant, goes dormant in winter
About This Grass
Forms a very dense, fine to medium-textured turf with a blue-green to grayish-green color, turning brown under frost dormancy
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat, pointed tips, folded in bud vernation, with a hairy ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons, establishing quickly and forming a tough sod
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressive spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (poor shade tolerance), moderate water needs with high drought tolerance through going dormant
Mowing & Maintenance
Low to moderate mowing height (0.5 to 1.5 inches), frequent mowing needed during peak growth, high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, rapid recovery, good salt tolerance, excellent for sports fields and home lawns
Ecological Information
Introduced in many parts of the world, provides good erosion control, high drought resilience, can become invasive in flower beds due to aggressive spreading