Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass, highly adaptable in the transition zone
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control, and Pasture Forage
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10, with some cold-hardy varieties surviving in lower zone 6. Excellent heat and drought tolerance, goes dormant and turns brown with the first hard frost.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (uncultivated wild-type or standard seeded varieties like 'Riviera')
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf when managed, but can grow up to 6-18 inches if left unmowed. Bright to dark green color during active summer growth, turning straw-brown during winter dormancy. Features distinctive digitate seed heads with 3 to 7 spiked racemes radiating from a single point.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium blades (2-3 mm wide), flat or slightly folded, with pointed tips and rough margins. Gray-green to light green in color. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, auricles are absent, and the collar is continuous with hairs.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil, coupled with robust rhizomes and stolons. Moderate to high thatch tendency under high nitrogen, very fast establishment from seed or vegetative plugs, providing exceptional wear recovery and drought resistance.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East Africa, widely naturalized globally in tropical and warm-temperate regions
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight; poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance via entering dormancy during severe dry spells. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, but tolerates a wide range of soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season. High fertilizer requirements (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually for optimal turf). Regular dethatching and core aeration needed. High maintenance level for pristine turf.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear recovery due to aggressive spreading, excellent drought recovery, high salt tolerance, and aggressive weed-crowding ability. Poor shade and cold tolerance. Used extensively for athletic fields, golf courses, and southern lawns.
Ecological Information
Often considered an invasive weed in agricultural fields or non-turf settings outside its native range. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control on slopes. Offers limited wildlife food value compared to native prairie grasses, though grazed readily by livestock.