Bermudagrass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Grass Category
Lawn, Turf, Sports Turf, Erosion Control, and Forage
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Hybrid Bermudagrass (specific cultivar requires genetic testing, but morphology suggests a coarser common variety)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; high heat tolerance; poor cold tolerance (goes dormant below 50°F and can suffer winter kill in Zone 6 and above).
About This Grass
Low-growing, dense, and wiry perennial. The sample shows a prominent stolon with alternating leaf nodes. Color is medium to dark green during growth, turning straw-colored in winter dormancy. Textures range from fine to coarse depending on variety.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-4mm); flat or slightly folded; sharply pointed tips; ligule is a fringe of short white hairs; auricles are absent; vernation is folded in the bud.
Root System
Deep fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes; extremely high thatch-forming tendency; rapid establishment; excellent wear recovery due to aggressive growth.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized across the Southern United States, Australia, and Mediterranean climates
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; spreads via both rhizomes (underground) and stolons (above-ground runners as seen in image)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun required (minimum 6-8 hours); very poor shade tolerance; moderate water needs but exceptionally high drought tolerance through dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height: 0.5 to 1.5 inches; high frequency required (1-2 times weekly); high fertilization (2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually); requires frequent aeration and dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic tolerance; high salt tolerance; rapid recuperative potential; invasive in flower beds; excellent for curbing erosion on slopes.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Invasive in many regions; low wildlife nesting value; excellent soil stabilizer; often used in monocultures or over-seeded with Ryegrass for winter color.