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 Hardiness Zones 7 through 10, excellent heat tolerance, but enters winter dormancy when temperatures drop below 50°F.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine to medium-textured turf with high wear tolerance. Exhibits a bright green color during the growing season and goes completely dormant and straw-colored during winter frosts.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium (2-3mm wide), flat, pointed tips, grayish-green to blue-green color, folded in the bud, with a hairy ligule and no auricles.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil, coupled with aggressive stolons and rhizomes, providing excellent drought tolerance and fast wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical Asia, widely naturalized globally in warm climates
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 8 hours direct sunlight), moderate to high drought tolerance, prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 0.75 to 1.5 inches frequently with sharp blades. High maintenance for top performance, requiring regular fertilization and dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, good recovery from damage, highly drought-resistant, intolerant of deep shade.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, valued for excellent soil stabilization and erosion control, though can behave invasively in agricultural settings.