Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, Golf Course, and Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (based on wide leaf texture and long internodes)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (goes dormant/brown below 50°F).
About This Grass
A low-growing, wiry grass that forms a dense, carpet-like sod. Naturally gray-green to dark green, turning straw-colored in winter dormancy. Seed heads are distinctive 3-7 finger-like spikes arranged in a whorl (digitate).
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 2-4mm (medium-coarse), flat or V-shaped, tapering to a sharp point. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent. Stems are slightly flattened.
Root System
Deep, extensive fibrous roots (up to 6 feet deep) with thick, fleshy rhizomes. Extremely fast establishment speed and heavy thatch-forming tendency. Very drought tolerant.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; both Rhizomatous (underground) and Stoloniferous (above ground runner stems)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours minimum), low tolerance for shade. Moderate water needs but high drought survival; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 1.0-2.0 inches for common varieties; high frequency required in summer. Fertilization 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. High maintenance; requires frequent dethatching/vertical mowing.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance and recovery speed; high salt tolerance; excellent at crowding out weeds; poor shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Used for soil stabilization and erosion control. Can be highly invasive in gardens/flower beds due to deep rhizomes. Often mixed with Ryegrass for winter overseeding.