Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass. Well-adapted to the transition zone and southern regions.
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Pasture/Forage Grass, Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, with some cold-hardy varieties surviving into Zone 6. Highly heat-tolerant, goes dormant below 50°F.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (seeded types or uncertified pasture types), characterized by aggressive spreading and moderate texture.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with medium-fine texture. Height reaches 6 to 18 inches if unmowed, but maintained much lower. Exhibits a medium green color during the growing season and goes completely dormant (straw-colored/tan) during winter frosts.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-fine (2-3mm wide), flat, with pointed tips, grayish-green to medium green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a hairy ligule and absent auricles.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil, coupled with aggressive rhizomes and stolons. Rapid establishment from seed or vegetative plugs, with high drought tolerance and exceptional wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, now widely naturalized and cultivated globally in warm climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, durable mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (intolerant of deep shade). Moderate to high drought tolerance once established; goes dormant under severe drought. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 5.8 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 0.75 to 1.5 inches for lawns, or up to 2 inches for pastures. Requires frequent mowing during peak summer growth. High fertilizer requirement for peak performance (3-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). Medium-high maintenance overall.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, excellent drought and heat tolerance, rapid recovery from damage, good salt tolerance, and aggressive weed-crowding ability.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes and pastures. Can act as a persistent weed in flower beds due to aggressive stoloniferous spread.