Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass, highly adapted to the transition zone
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild type or standard utility turf)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, tolerates extreme heat and drought, goes dormant and turns straw-colored below 50°F (10°C), susceptible to severe frost damage in colder northern zones
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing, fine to medium-textured turf with gray-green to dark green blades; height can reach 4-15 inches if unmowed but is typically maintained at 0.5-1.5 inches; produces finger-like (digitate) raceme seed heads
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-3mm), flat shape, pointed tips, gray-green to bright green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), prominent midrib, membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs, small or absent auricles, narrow collar region
Root System
Extremely deep root system (up to 6 feet or more in favorable soils), fibrous with aggressive rhizomes and stolons; moderate to high thatch tendency; establishes rapidly from seed or vegetative plugs/sod; superior drought tolerance and rapid wear recovery
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East Africa and parts of the Mediterranean, widely naturalized globally in warm tropical and subtropical climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, durable turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours direct sunlight), does not tolerate heavy shade; moderate water needs for optimal appearance but highly drought-tolerant by entering dormancy during severe dry spells; prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 5.8 to 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height range from 0.5 to 1.5 inches; high mowing frequency (every 3-5 days in peak growing season); high fertilizer requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year for high maintenance); frequent dethatching and core aeration required; high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance making it ideal for sports fields and golf courses; good salt tolerance; high drought recovery via underground rhizomes; excellent erosion control; aggressively crowds out weeds when properly managed
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; provides soil stabilization and controls erosion on slopes; offers limited wildlife habitat; can behave as an invasive agricultural weed in crop fields; frequently blended or kept as a monoculture turf