Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season perennial, C4 metabolism
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (vibrant green, medium-fine texture)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; high heat tolerance; goes into brown dormancy when temperatures drop below 50°F (10°C); moderate cold tolerance depending on cultivar.
About This Grass
A low-growing, high-density grass with a light to medium green color. It forms a thick carpet through interlocking stolons and rhizomes. Under unmowed conditions, it produces finger-like (digitate) seed heads on stems 6-18 inches high.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (1.5-3mm), flat or slightly V-shaped, with a distinctively pointed tip. Vernation is folded. The ligule is a fringe of white hairs, and auricles are absent. Long hairs are often found at the leaf base/collar area.
Root System
Extensive fibrous root system that can reach depths of 6 feet; creates a dense sod with a high thatch-forming tendency; extremely fast establishment from stolons or rhizomes.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions globally
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and stoloniferous; highly aggressive with a rapid spreading rate and dense mat-forming capability
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6-8 hours); high drought tolerance due to deep roots; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0 to 7.0; requires regular water to stay green during peak heat.
Mowing & Maintenance
0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid varieties or 1.0 to 2.5 inches for common types; high frequency (weekly or more); requires 1-4 lbs of Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear and traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance; exceptional recovery ability from damage; crowds out most weeds when healthy.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in the US; provides soil stabilization for erosion-prone slopes; can be invasive in garden beds; often used in mixtures with Ryegrass for winter color.