Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance and recovery, but goes dormant and turns brown upon exposure to frost or prolonged cold temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda or improved hybrid varieties like 'Tifway 419'
About This Grass
Forms a very dense, fine- to medium-textured turf with a blue-green to gray-green color. Mowed height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches, while unmowed it can reach 4 to 12 inches with finger-like seed heads (racemes) radiating from a common point.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are short, flat, tapered, and medium-narrow (2-4mm wide) with pointed tips. Color is blue-green to grey-green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system with aggressive underground rhizomes and surface stolons. Establishes rapidly from sod or seed, creates moderate thatch, and provides exceptional wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World; widely naturalized and cultivated globally in warm climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both rhizomes and stolons, forming a dense, tight mat or turf.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight). Moderate to high drought tolerance through dormancy, but performs best with regular irrigation. Thrives in well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.5 to 1.5 inches using a reel or sharp rotary mower. High maintenance during peak growing season requiring frequent mowing and moderate to high nitrogen fertilization (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year).
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear recovery, good salt tolerance, excellent drought recovery via dormancy, poor shade tolerance, highly aggressive against weeds when properly maintained.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes. Can become weedy or invasive in agricultural settings or flowerbeds due to its aggressive stoloniferous spread.