Bermudagrass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Chloridoideae, Tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermudagrass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance; enters dormancy when soil temperatures drop below 50°F.
About This Grass
A low-growing, dense sod-forming grass with a medium to coarse texture. It exhibits a grayish-green to dark green color during the growing season and turns brown/straw-colored during winter dormancy. It produces a characteristic finger-like (digitate) seed head with 3-7 spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 2-4mm wide, flat, and tapered to a sharp point. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of short white hairs; auricles are absent. The collar is narrow and often has long hairs on the edges.
Root System
Extremely deep and extensive fibrous root system with both underground rhizomes and surface stolons. High thatch-forming tendency; very fast establishment speed and excellent wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and Stoloniferous (highly aggressive spreader)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours minimum); high drought tolerance but needs supplemental water for green color; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 1.0-2.0 inches for common varieties; frequent mowing required; high fertilization needs (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); high maintenance level due to aggressive growth.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic/wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; excellent drought recovery; can become invasive in garden beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; serves as forage for livestock; can be an invasive weed in non-turf settings.