Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Pasture, and Erosion Control Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10 (and warmer parts of Zone 6). Excellent heat and drought tolerance, but goes completely dormant and turns brown at the first heavy frost.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (wild-type/naturalized strains)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine-to-medium textured turf mat with grey-green to blue-green leaves. Unmowed, it can reach heights of 6 to 15 inches with slender flowering culms. Seed heads consist of 3 to 7 digitate (finger-like) spikes radiating from a single point at the top of the stem.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are narrow (2-3 mm wide), flat, short, and taper to a pointed tip. Color ranges from light to dark grey-green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent.
Root System
Extensive, deep root system (often reaching 2-6 feet or more in favorable soils). Extremely fast establishment from seed and vegetative parts, with low-to-moderate thatch tendency under high fertilization.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized in tropical and warm temperate zones
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, tight sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (intolerant of dense shade). High drought tolerance via dormancy. Moderate-to-high water needs for optimal green color and growth, but survives severe dry spells by going dormant. Adapts to a wide range of soils with pH 5.5 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Requires frequent mowing due to rapid growth during peak summer. High maintenance level if manicured; responds aggressively to regular fertilization (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually).
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance with rapid recuperative ability, making it ideal for sports fields and golf course fairways. Good salt tolerance and excellent erosion control.
Ecological Information
Often acts as an aggressive colonizer and can be invasive in natural ecosystems or agricultural settings where it competes with native plants. Provides valuable forage for livestock in pastures and aids significantly in soil stabilization.