Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10 (and warmer parts of Zone 6). Excellent heat tolerance, enters winter dormancy when temperatures consistently drop below 50°F. Survives winter freezes by going dormant.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type or standard turf varieties such as 'Riviera')
About This Grass
Forms an aggressive, dense, fine-to-medium textured turf with a vibrant medium-to-dark green color during the growing season. It goes completely dormant and turns tan/straw-colored during cold winter months. Unmowed height can reach 4 to 12 inches, featuring slender, finger-like (digitate) spikes of seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-narrow (2-3 mm wide), flat, with pointed tips. Color is typically grayish-green to medium green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. The collar region is broad and continuous.
Root System
Deep root system (can reach several feet deep in favorable soils) with aggressive stolons and rhizomes. Fast establishment from seed or sod, moderate-to-high thatch-forming tendency depending on fertility and management, excellent drought tolerance and fast wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in southern regions and transition zones of the United States and globally in warm climates.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, wear-tolerant, mat-like sod.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 8 hours of direct sunlight daily; very poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance through dormancy. Needs regular watering for best appearance, but survives on minimal moisture. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches (benefits from frequent, low mowing). High maintenance level when managed for high-end turf, requiring regular fertilization (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually during peak season), frequent mowing, and periodic dethatching/aeration.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance with rapid regenerative capacity via stolons and rhizomes. Good salt tolerance. Poor shade tolerance. Excellent erosion control capabilities and aggressive weed-crowding ability. Widely used for home lawns, athletic fields, and golf course fairways and tees.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides limited wildlife habitat compared to native grasses, but excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control due to its dense root network. Can exhibit invasive tendencies in flower beds and agricultural fields adjacent to turf areas due to its aggressive spreading habit.