Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance; goes dormant and turns brown with the first hard frost; poor shade tolerance
About This Grass
Fine to medium-textured, light to dark green turfgrass forming a dense sod; height ranges from 0.5 to 2 inches when maintained, taller if unmowed; produces digitate seed heads with 3 to 7 spikes
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 2-4mm wide, flat, tapering to a pointed tip; gray-green to bright green color; rolled in the bud (vernation); ligule is a fringe of hairs; auricles are absent
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons; moderate to fast establishment; moderate thatch-forming tendency; excellent wear recovery and high drought tolerance
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely naturalized and cultivated in tropical and warm-temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons and rhizomes, forming a dense, durable turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight); moderate watering needs once established, highly drought-tolerant by entering dormancy; prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 0.5 to 1.5 inches frequently with a reel or rotary mower; high fertilizer requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); requires regular dethatching and aeration; high maintenance level
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance; good recovery from injury; high drought and salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; prone to common turf diseases like dollar spot and large patch under high humidity and excessive nitrogen
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes; provides low wildlife value compared to native grasses; often invasive in agricultural settings or flower beds due to aggressive spreading stolons