Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass, well-suited for transition zones and warm regions
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (uncultivated wild type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, tolerates extreme summer heat well, goes dormant below 50 degrees Fahrenheit
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with grayish-green to medium-green leaves. It tends to go dormant and turn brown during colder winter months in temperate regions. It can invade thin spots or bare sandy patches as shown in the image.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium in width (2-3 mm), flat, pointed at the tips, grayish-green to light green, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a hairy ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons; moderate to fast establishment speed; creates a dense thatch layer if not managed; highly drought tolerant once established
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide, naturalized globally in warm climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, wear-tolerant sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight); highly drought resistant, enters dormancy during severe drought; prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height range of 0.5 to 1.5 inches; requires frequent mowing during peak growing season; high fertilizer requirement for optimal color; medium-high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, rapid recovery from damage due to aggressive spreading, excellent drought tolerance, moderate salt tolerance
Ecological Information
Introduced in many non-native regions, acts as an aggressive colonizer of bare sandy or disturbed soils, provides good erosion control, and offers limited wildlife habitat