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 or standard utility turf)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, with some cold-hardy varieties surviving into Zone 6. Exceptional heat tolerance, goes dormant when temperatures drop below 50°F.
About This Grass
Forms an extremely dense, carpet-like turf with a fine to medium texture. Vibrant medium to dark green color during the growing season, turning brown and going completely dormant during winter frosts. Reaches 2-6 inches if unmowed, but maintained closely at 0.5-1.5 inches. Seed heads feature 3 to 7 slender, digitate spikes arranged in a finger-like cluster at the top of the stem.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium in width (2-3mm), flat, tapering to a pointed tip. Color is bright blue-green to grayish-green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent. Collar is continuous with a narrow whitish band.
Root System
Deep, fibrous root system extending 6 feet or more in favorable soils. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency depending on fertility. Extremely fast establishment from seed, sprigs, or sod, with superior drought recovery and wear tolerance due to aggressive spreading structures.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely cultivated across southern US and transition 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 (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight); very poor shade tolerance. High drought tolerance (enters dormancy during severe drought and greens up quickly with water). Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 0.5 to 1.5 inches using a reel or sharp rotary mower. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season (twice weekly). High fertilizer requirements (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year) for optimal appearance. High maintenance level overall.
Special Characteristics
Outstanding wear tolerance and rapid self-repairing ability making it ideal for sports fields and high-traffic lawns. Good salt tolerance. Excellent erosion control due to dense matting root and shoot system. Poor shade and cold tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides limited wildlife value compared to native prairies, but serves well for soil stabilization, dust reduction, and carbon sequestration in urban/suburban environments. Can behave aggressively and invade neighboring flower beds.