Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass and Sports Turf
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10, with high heat tolerance and moderate cold tolerance depending on the cultivar; goes dormant when temperatures drop below 50°F.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda
About This Grass
Forms a dense, tough turfgrass mat that spreads rapidly via stolons and rhizomes. Exhibits a medium-fine texture with a grayish-green to bright green color during the growing season and goes completely dormant (straw-brown) in winter.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium in width (2-3mm), flat, grayish-green, pointed at the tips, folded in the bud with a membranous ligule fringed with hairs, and lacking auricles.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to 6 feet or more in favorable soils, providing excellent drought tolerance and rapid wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa and tropical regions, widely naturalized in tropical and warm-temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressive, spreading by both stolons above ground and rhizomes below ground
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) and moderate watering once established, with exceptional drought tolerance due to deep rooting and dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Low to medium-high maintenance requiring frequent mowing at a low height of 0.5 to 1.5 inches, high nitrogen fertilization during peak growth, and regular dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, very fast recovery from damage, good salt tolerance, excellent erosion control, and aggressive weed suppression.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides good soil stabilization, widely used in lawns and sports fields, and can become invasive in flower beds due to its aggressive spreading habit.