Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass. Commonly used in transition zones and southern regions.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (seeded types like 'Princess 77' or vegetative hybrids like 'Tifway 419')
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10 (and warmer). Excellent heat tolerance, but susceptible to winter injury in colder northern zones where it goes into deep dormancy.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with a fine to medium texture. Spreads rapidly to create a tight sod. Bright green to grayish-green color during the active growing season, turning brown and going completely dormant with the first hard frosts. Unmowed height can reach 4-15 inches, but maintained turf is kept much lower.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are flat, short, grayish-green to light green, with a width typically between 2 to 4 mm (medium). Leaf blades taper to a sharp point. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep, aggressive root system (can reach depths of 6 feet or more in favorable soils). Extremely fast establishment from seed and vegetative parts. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency depending on fertility and management.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide. Widely naturalized in tropical and warm temperate climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressive spreader utilizing both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground). Forms a very dense, tight turf mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 8-10 hours of direct sunlight daily; very poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance, entering dormancy during prolonged dry spells and greening up quickly upon receiving water. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is low, between 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season (every 3-5 days). High maintenance level, especially for hybrid varieties requiring regular fertilization (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), dethatching, and vertical mowing.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance with rapid recuperative ability due to aggressive stolons and rhizomes. Good salt tolerance. Excellent for sports fields, golf course fairways/tees, and home lawns in warm climates.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes due to its dense mat-forming roots and stolons. Can act as a persistent weed in flower beds and cool-season lawns due to its aggressive invasive spreading habit.