Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 through 10. Has good heat tolerance, goes dormant (turns brown) with the first hard frost, and can suffer winter kill in colder zones.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type / naturalized populations)
About This Grass
Forms a very dense, fine to medium-textured turf with a light to dark green color. It spreads rapidly to cover bare spots. Unmowed, it can reach heights of 4 to 15 inches, but when maintained it forms a low-growing carpet. Produces characteristic finger-like (digitate) seed heads with 3 to 7 spikelets radiating from a single point.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are relatively short, flat, tapered, pointed at the tips, and 2 to 4 mm wide. Color ranges from grayish-green to medium green. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Extensive, deep fibrous root system that can reach depths of 6 feet or more in favorable soils, conferring exceptional drought tolerance and rapid recovery from wear via stolons and rhizomes.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; naturalized globally in warm climates.
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 8 hours of direct sunlight daily) and has poor shade tolerance. Moderate water needs once established, with high drought tolerance by going dormant during severe dry spells. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid types, up to 2.0 inches for common Bermuda. Requires frequent mowing during the active growing season. High fertilizer requirements for optimal color and density (3 to 6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year). High maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance, making it ideal for athletic fields, golf courses, and high-use lawns. Good salt tolerance and excellent erosion control. Recovers quickly from damage due to aggressive lateral growth.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America where it is widely cultivated. Can behave aggressively and invade flowerbeds or native areas via stolons and rhizomes. Provides good ground cover and soil stabilization, though low value for native wildlife habitat compared to native prairie grasses.