Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Sports Turf, Golf Course, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; high heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance; enters dormancy below 50°F (10°C).
About This Grass
A low-growing, dense turf grass with a gray-green to dark green color. It exhibits a fine-to-medium texture and is highly invasive in garden beds. It turns straw-colored and dormant in winter. Seed heads are distinctive 3-7 finger-like spikes (digitate).
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (1.5-3mm); flat or slightly folded; sharply pointed tips; gray-green to bluish-green color; vernation is folded; ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent; collar is narrow and hairy.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system with aggressive rhizomes; forms thick thatch; very fast establishment and high recovery from wear or damage.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Southern United States and Transition Zone.
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; both Rhizomatous (underground) and Stoloniferous (above ground); forms a very dense, low-growing mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (6-8+ hours); very poor shade tolerance; high drought tolerance once established; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 0.5 to 1.5 inches; high frequency (1-2 times per week); 2-4 lbs Nitrogen/1000 sq ft/year; high maintenance; requires regular verticutting/dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear and traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; superior drought recovery; quick to fill in bare spots; resistant to many common pests but susceptible to Large Patch and Spring Dead Spot.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; excellent for soil erosion control; can be invasive in non-turf areas; provides moderate cover for small insects; often blended with Ryegrass for winter color (overseeding).