Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season perennial (C4)
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (likely based on texture and visible thatch)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10. Excellent heat tolerance; goes dormant and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 50-55°F.
About This Grass
A dense, low-growing mat-forming grass. It is dark green during the growing season and turns completely tan or straw-colored during winter dormancy. It has a medium-to-fine texture and produces bird-foot shaped seed heads when left unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 2-4mm wide, tapering to a pointed tip. Vernation is folded. Color ranges from gray-green to dark green. Featuring a fringe of hairs for a ligule, no auricles, and a distinctively hairy collar region.
Root System
Extremely deep and extensive fibrous root system with thick rhizomes. High thatch-forming tendency. Fast establishment and excellent recovery from wear.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zone climates globally.
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; both rhizomatous (underground stems) and stoloniferous (above-ground runners).
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours minimum); high drought tolerance via dormancy mechanism but needs regular water for summer greenness. Prefers well-drained soil, pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Frequent mowing required. High nitrogen needs (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft/year). Requires periodic vertical mowing or dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and wear recovery. Highly salt tolerant. Poor shade tolerance (will thin out under trees). Invasive in garden beds.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America. Excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes. Can be considered a weed in non-turf ecosystems due to aggressive spreading.