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, Pasture
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type / pasture type)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, excellent heat tolerance, poor shade tolerance, goes completely dormant and turns brown during freezing winter temperatures
About This Grass
Fine to medium-textured warm-season turfgrass that exhibits rapid growth in full sun and high heat. Shows significant winter dormancy turning straw-brown under frost conditions. Forms a dense sod with upright to spreading stems.
Blade Characteristics
Medium-narrow blades (2-3mm width), flat shape, pointed tips, grayish-green to medium green color, rolled in the bud (vernation), with a hairy ligule and absent auricles
Root System
Deep, aggressive root system with extensive rhizomes and stolons. Moderate to high thatch tendency, fast establishment from seed or vegetative plugs, excellent wear recovery
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa, widely naturalized and cultivated globally in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both rhizomes and stolons, forming a dense, wear-resistant mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours direct sunlight), moderate to high drought tolerance via dormancy, prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 0.5 to 1.5 inches, frequent mowing needed during peak growing season, high fertilizer requirement (3-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), high maintenance level overall
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, good recovery from damage, high salt tolerance, poor shade tolerance, highly invasive in flower beds due to aggressive spreading stolons
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes, utilized as forage for livestock, can become a persistent weed in non-turf areas