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 Grass (implied by image texture and growth habit)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-10; excellent heat tolerance; poor shade tolerance; enters total dormancy and turns tan below 50°F (10°C).
About This Grass
A low-growing, creeping grass that turns straw-colored or tan during winter dormancy (as seen in image). During the growing season, it is dark green with a fine to medium texture. It produces bird-foot shaped seed heads on stalks 6-18 inches tall when unmowed.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are narrow (2-4mm), flat or slightly folded, with a sharp-pointed tip. Color is light to dark green in summer, tan in winter. Vernation is folded in the bud; ligule is a ring of white hairs; auricles are absent; collar is narrow with long hairs on the margins.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous root system reaching up to 6 feet deep; heavy thatch producer due to stolons and rhizomes. Very fast establishment and excellent wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Africa; widely naturalized in tropical, subtropical, and transition zones worldwide
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous and Stoloniferous; highly aggressive spreading habit forming a dense, thick mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires 6-8 hours minimum); high drought tolerance once established; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0; requires moderate watering during active growth.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintain at 0.5 to 1.5 inches; mow frequently (weekly or more); requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance due to rapid growth and thatch buildup requiring vertical mowing.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic/wear tolerance; high salt tolerance; low shade tolerance; very aggressive at crowding out weeds; prone to Dollar Spot and Large Patch diseases.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America; can be invasive in gardens and agricultural fields; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control; provides limited cover for small wildlife.