Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Pasture/Forage, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10. Excellent heat tolerance, but enters winter dormancy and loses color when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (uncultivated wild type)
About This Grass
A fine to medium-textured warm-season grass with a prostrate, creeping growth habit. Color is typically grey-green or blue-green during the active growing season, turning brown and going dormant with the first frost. Can grow quite tall if left unmowed due to its upright seed-bearing stems, but typically maintained low.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are flat to folded, narrow (2-4mm wide), pointed at the tips, grey-green to light green in color. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system reaching up to 6 feet or more in favorable soils, combined with extensive rhizomes and stolons. Establishes rapidly from seed, sprigs, or sod, showing high drought tolerance and exceptional wear recovery.
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, durable turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) and cannot tolerate heavy shade. High drought tolerance (enters dormancy during extreme drought) but responds well to regular irrigation. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 0.5 to 1.5 inches for turf applications. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season due to rapid vertical stem growth. High nitrogen requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). Medium-high maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, making it ideal for sports fields, golf course fairways, and high-use lawns. Good salt tolerance and aggressive weed-crowding ability.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes. Can become an invasive weed in flower beds and agricultural fields due to its aggressive spreading nature.