Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. Excellent heat tolerance, but enters winter dormancy when temperatures drop consistently below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Poor cold tolerance compared to cool-season grasses.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (wild-type characteristics)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine-to-medium textured turf with a vibrant green color during the growing season; goes dormant and turns straw-brown with the first frost. Grows low to the ground when maintained, but can reach 6 to 12 inches if unmowed. Produces distinctive digitate seed heads with 3 to 7 spike-like racemes radiating from a single point.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-width (2-3mm), flat, tapering to a sharp point. Color ranges from light green to grayish-green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Collars are continuous and often bear a few long hairs.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil, coupled with aggressive rhizomes and stolons. Establishes rapidly from seed, sprigs, or sod, forming a tight, tough sod with high wear recovery and moderate thatch tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized in warm temperate to tropical zones
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) and has zero shade tolerance. Moderate to high drought tolerance through going dormant in dry periods, but performs best with regular irrigation. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.75 to 1.5 inches for lawns, and lower for golf course turf. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season due to rapid vertical growth. High fertilizer requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) for optimal color and density. High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance with rapid recuperative ability, making it ideal for sports fields and high-use areas. Good salt tolerance and excellent erosion control. Resistant to many common turf diseases, though susceptible to dollar spot, large patch, and spring dead spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes and banks. Can become an aggressive weed in flower beds and gardens due to its rampant underground rhizomes. Often used in mixes or standalone for southern lawns.