Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Pasture, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (likely, based on the medium-coarse texture and growth pattern)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance; becomes dormant and turns brown below 50-60°F soil temperatures.
About This Grass
A low-growing, wiry grass that forms a dense sod. It has a grey-green to dark green color, a medium-fine texture, and enters a straw-colored dormancy in winter. Seed heads are conspicuous, 3-7 finger-like spikes (digitate) on a single stalk.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 1.5-4mm; flat or slightly folded with a pointed tip; grey-green to dark green; vernation is folded; ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent; collar is narrow and hairy.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with both underground rhizomes and surface stolons; high thatch tendency; very fast establishment; excellent wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical, subtropical, and transition zone climates globally
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and Rhizomatous; highly aggressive spreader forming a dense, thick mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8+ hours); low shade tolerance; moderate water needs; exceptional drought tolerance and heat resistance; prefers pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5-1.5 inches; frequent mowing required (1-2 times weekly); fertilization 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/year; high maintenance; necessitates periodic dethatching (scalping/verticutting).
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; highly invasive in garden beds; rapid recovery from injury via stolons; limited shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in the Americas; excellent for soil erosion control and soil stabilization; provides low-quality nesting habitat but high-quality forage for livestock; often considered a weed in cool-season turf.