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 or standard wild type)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10 (and into transitional areas of Zone 6 with cold-hardy cultivars). Excellent heat tolerance, poor extreme cold tolerance (goes completely dormant below 50°F and turns straw-colored).
About This Grass
Forms a tight, dense turf of medium-fine texture with a vibrant green color during the growing season, turning brown and going dormant with the first heavy frosts. Unmowed height can reach 4 to 15 inches, while maintained turf is kept much lower. Seed heads are digitately arranged spikes (usually 3 to 7 spikes in a finger-like cluster).
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium in width (2-3 mm), flat or folded, with pointed tips and a grayish-green to medium-green color. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system extending several feet into the soil, coupled with robust rhizomes and stolons. Rapid establishment from seed or sod, low to moderate thatch tendency under heavy fertilization, excellent drought avoidance via deep roots, and superior wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in the southern United States and transition zones.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, durable mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight; very poor shade tolerance). High drought tolerance once established, entering dormancy during severe dry spells. Prefers well-draining soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintained at 0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid types, up to 2 inches for common types. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season due to rapid vertical and horizontal growth. High nitrogen requirement (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually for optimal color and density). High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance making it ideal for sports fields and high-use home lawns. Good salt tolerance, rapid aggressive recovery from damage, excellent erosion control, and strong weed-crowding ability.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides limited wildlife value compared to native prairie grasses, though used for grazing in pasture settings. Highly effective for soil stabilization and erosion control due to its extensive underground network. Can behave as a persistent weed in flower beds and gardens due to aggressive stoloniferous spread.