Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass; highly adapted to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Tifway 419 (a popular hybrid widely used for sports turf and golf courses)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (goes dormant and turns brown below freezing)
About This Grass
Forms a very dense, carpet-like turf of medium-fine texture with a bright to dark green color, turning straw-brown under frost or prolonged drought dormancy; maintains a very low profile when closely mown as seen in the image
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat to folded shape, pointed tips, gray-green to light green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a hairy ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system combined with rhizomes and stolons; moderate to high thatch tendency; establishes rapidly from sod and tolerates heavy wear
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely cultivated globally in warm climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming an extremely dense, tight turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (poor shade tolerance); high drought tolerance through dormancy; requires moderate to high water during the growing season for optimal appearance; thrives in well-drained soils with a wide pH range (6.0-7.0)
Mowing & Maintenance
Low mowing height (0.5 to 1.5 inches for lawns, much lower for golf greens); frequent mowing required during peak growth; high fertilizer needs (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year); high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance and rapid recovery, good salt tolerance, excellent erosion control, highly aggressive spreader that can crowd out weeds, poor shade tolerance
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides limited wildlife food value compared to native grasses but excellent soil stabilization and dust reduction; often managed with blends or monocultures in turf settings