Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Erosion Control, and occasionally a Weed Grass in cool-season lawns
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (appears to be a non-hybrid variety based on coarse texture and aggressive stolon growth)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10; high heat tolerance; enters dormancy when temperatures consistently drop below 50°F (10°C).
About This Grass
A low-growing, tough grass that spreads rapidly via runners. It turns straw-colored or brown during winter buoyancy/dormancy as seen in the thatch layer of the image. It has a medium-coarse texture and produces seed heads that resemble a bird's foot (digitiform spikelets).
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 2-4mm wide (medium-coarse), flat or occasionally folded, with a sharply pointed tip. Color is typically grey-green to dark green. It has a hairy ligule and no auricles, with a rolled vernation in the bud.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with hardy rhizomes; highly drought tolerant and capable of rapid recovery from wear or drought; high thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical, subtropical, and transition zone climates globally
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; both Rhizomatous (underground) and Stoloniferous (above ground stolons visible in image), forming a dense mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires at least 6-8 hours); very poor shade tolerance. Low to moderate watering once established; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height: 1.0 to 2.5 inches for common varieties; frequency: high (1-2 times per week during peak growth); fertilization: 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance due to rapid growth.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear and traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; exceptional drought recovery; aggressive enough to crowd out most weeds but can become invasive in garden beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; low wildlife food value but provides cover; often considered a weed in ornamental landscapes due to difficult eradication.