Bermuda Grass
Cynodon dactylon · Warm-season, Perennial, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, Chloridoideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda Grass (appears to be wild-type or common variety)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11; excellent heat tolerance; enters winter dormancy and turns brown when soil temperatures drop below 50-55°F.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing mat. Color ranges from light to dark green depending on nutrition. Features fine-textured blades and characteristically 'finger-like' seed heads (spikes) arranged in a whorl of 3 to 7.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-4mm), flat or slightly V-shaped, pointed tip, light green to gray-green, folded vernation. Ligule is a fringe of white hairs; auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep and extensive fibrous roots with aggressive rhizomes and stolons; very quick establishment and high thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa; widely adapted to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the southern United States.
Growth Habit
Highly aggressive; both Rhizomatous (underground) and Stoloniferous (above ground spreading).
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (requires at least 6-8 hours); high drought tolerance once established but prefers regular watering for green color; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
1.0 to 2.5 inches for common varieties; frequent mowing required during peak summer; 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance due to rapid growth.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear/traffic tolerance, high salt tolerance, excellent drought recovery, poor shade tolerance, and highly effective at crowding out most weeds once established.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in many regions; excellent for soil stabilization and erosion control; can be highly invasive in gardens and non-target areas; visible in the provided image as the base turf supporting a broadleaf weed (Amaranthus spp.).