Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type often found naturalized in lawns)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, tolerates extreme summer heat well, goes dormant below 50°F (10°C), susceptible to winter kill in prolonged freezes below 0°F (-18°C).
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing, fine-to-medium textured turf of gray-green to bright green color. Mows very tightly and aggressively invades adjacent garden beds. Goes dormant and turns straw-brown during cold winter months. Seed heads consist of 3 to 7 digitate spikes.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are short, 2 to 4 mm wide, flat, pointed tips, gray-green to medium green color, rolled in the bud (vernation). Features a membranous ligule with a fringe of hairs and prominent collar.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to 6 feet or more in favorable soils, highly drought resistant, rapid establishment from seed, stolons, and rhizomes, forms a dense sod with moderate thatch tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa, widely naturalized and cultivated in tropical and warm-temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight); highly intolerant of shade. High drought tolerance due to deep roots; goes into dormancy under severe drought and greens up quickly with water. Prefers well-drained soils with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 1.0 to 1.5 inches for home lawns (lower for golf course fairways/greens). Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season. High fertilizer requirements (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance with rapid recuperative ability from damage. Good salt tolerance. Excellent for home lawns, athletic fields, golf course fairways, and erosion control slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, can act as a persistent weed in agricultural settings and flower beds due to aggressive spreading. Provides limited wildlife value compared to native grasses, but offers excellent soil stabilization and erosion control.