Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda or Hybrid (likely 'Tifway 419' or similar based on density)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; high heat tolerance, enters dormancy below 50-60 degrees F, sensitive to hard freezes in northern transition zones.
About This Grass
Dense, fine-textured mat-forming grass with a dark green color during growth. Turns straw-brown during winter dormancy. Exhibits a prostrate growth habit with abundant wiry stems and spike-like seed heads with 3-7 finger-like branches.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (1.5-3mm), flat or folded, with a sharply pointed tip. Grayish-green to dark green color. Folded vernation, fringe of hairs at the ligule, absent auricles, and a narrow continuous collar with long hairs at the edges.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with both rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (above-ground runners). Fast establishment and high thatch tendency; excellent drought tolerance and wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and Stoloniferous; highly aggressive mat-forming with rapid spread
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (6-8+ hours minimum); high drought tolerance. Prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0. Low to moderate water needs once established.
Mowing & Maintenance
0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid, up to 2.5 for common. Frequent mowing (1-2 times weekly), 2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year. High maintenance level requiring regular dethatching and aeration.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear/traffic tolerance, high salt tolerance, low shade tolerance, rapid recovery from damage via runners, effectively crowds out most weeds if maintained densely.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in the USA; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control. Can be invasive in garden beds. Provide nesting cover for small birds but considered a weed in many agricultural contexts due to persistence.