Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (based on slightly wider blade appearance and growth habit)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance; enters dormancy when temperatures drop below 50°F; moderate cold tolerance (varies by cultivar).
About This Grass
A low-growing, dense, and vigorous perennial turfgrass. It exhibits a medium to dark green color during the growing season and turns a distinctive tan/brown during winter dormancy. Texture is medium-coarse for common varieties. Seed heads appear as 3-7 finger-like spikes (spicate branches) arranged in a whorl at the top of the stem.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width: medium (1.5-4mm); shape: flat or slightly folded; tip: sharply pointed; color: gray-green to dark green; vernation: folded in the bud; ligule: a fringe of white hairs; auricles: absent. The collar region is narrow and usually has long hairs at the edges.
Root System
Extensive and deep fibrous root system complemented by thick rhizomes. Excellent sod-forming ability with high thatch tendency and rapid establishment. Superior wear recovery due to spreading stolons.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zone regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; both Rhizomatous (underground) and Stoloniferous (above ground) spreading; forms a dense, tight mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8+ hours/day); poor shade tolerance. Moderate to low water needs once established; high drought tolerance. Performs best in well-drained soils with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height: 0.5 to 2.0 inches; frequency: high (1-2 times weekly during peak growth). Fertilization: 0.5-1.0 lb Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per growing month. High maintenance level requiring regular dethatching and aeration.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; excellent drought recovery; high invasive potential in flower beds; relatively resistant to many pests but susceptible to Large Patch (Rhizoctonia).
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides soil stabilization for erosion control; serves as limited forage but can be a persistent weed in non-turf agricultural settings; often blended with Ryegrass for winter color (overseeding).