Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Tifway 419 hybrid
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10, with some cold-hardier varieties surviving in Zone 6. Excellent heat and drought tolerance, goes dormant below 50°F.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with medium-fine texture. Bright green color during the growing season, turning completely straw-colored and dormant during winter frosts. Stoloniferous runners spread rapidly across bare soil.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat blades with pointed tips, grayish-green to blue-green color. Rolled in the bud (vernation). Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles absent.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to several feet deep in favorable soils. Fast establishment from seed or vegetative plugs, moderate thatch tendency, excellent wear recovery via aggressive lateral spread.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in warm temperate to tropical climates globally.
Growth Habit
Aggressive combination of both stoloniferous (above ground) and rhizomatous (below ground) spreading, forming a dense, dense mat-forming sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required (poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance via entering dormancy, but requires regular moisture for optimum green color. Thrives in well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height range from 0.5 to 1.5 inches. High maintenance level during active growing season requiring frequent mowing, high fertilization (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), and periodic dethatching/aeration.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance with rapid recuperative ability, good salt tolerance, excellent drought recovery, aggressive weed suppression when healthy, prone to spring dead spot and large patch diseases.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, widely used for turf and erosion control. High utility for soil stabilization and heavy traffic areas, but can exhibit invasive tendencies in agricultural beds or flower gardens.