Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass; highly adapted to transition and warm-temperate zones.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control, and Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type / naturalized selections)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, with some improved cold-hardy cultivars surviving in Zone 6. Highly heat tolerant, goes completely dormant and turns brown when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with gray-green to medium-green flat leaves. Unmowed heights can reach 4-15 inches, while maintained turf is kept much shorter. Features flattened stems and distinctive purplish nodes along the stolons.
Blade Characteristics
Medium-narrow blades (2-3 mm wide), flat or folded in the bud (rolled vernation), pointed tips, grayish-green to blue-green color. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles absent, collar is continuous with hairs.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending up to 6 feet or more in favorable soils, combined with extensive rhizomes and stolons. Moderate to high thatch tendency, exceptionally fast establishment from seed and vegetative parts, high drought tolerance and rapid wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa (specifically the savanna and tropical regions), now widely naturalized and cultivated globally in tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate regions.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both above-ground stolons and below-ground rhizomes, forming a dense, tight mat or sod with rapid lateral growth.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 8-10 hours of direct sunlight daily). High drought tolerance once established, entering dormancy during prolonged dry spells; requires moderate moisture for optimal green growth. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 5.8 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.75 to 1.5 inches for lawns (lower for golf courses). Requires frequent mowing (1-2 times per week during peak growth). High fertilization needs (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, good salt tolerance, excellent drought recovery, poor shade tolerance, highly invasive into flower beds and gardens via aggressive stolons.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes. Can become a troublesome weed in agricultural fields and landscape beds due to its aggressive spreading nature.