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. Excellent heat tolerance, poor cold tolerance (goes dormant and may suffer winter kill below freezing without protection). Well-suited for the southern transition zone and warm regions.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Chloridoideae, tribe Cynodonteae
Variety / Cultivar
Common Bermuda (unimproved wild-type / naturalized)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, low-growing turf with a medium-fine texture. Bright green to grayish-green color during the active growing season, turning brown and going dormant during frosts. Reaches heights of 2 to 6 inches if unmoved, but maintained very low. Produces digitate seed heads with 3 to 7 spiked branches.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are fine to medium in width (2-3 mm), flat or folded, with pointed tips. Grayish-green to bright green color. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is a fringe of hairs. Auricles are absent.
Root System
Deep, aggressive fibrous root system combined with extensive rhizomes and stolons. Establishes quickly from seed, sprigs, or sod. Forms a very dense thatch layer if not managed properly. Exceptional drought tolerance and rapid wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Africa and tropical/subtropical regions worldwide; widely naturalized and cultivated in tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate regions globally.
Growth Habit
Aggressively spreading via both stolons (above ground) and rhizomes (below ground), forming a dense, wear-resistant mat.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (intolerant of dense shade). High drought tolerance once established, going into dormancy during severe drought and recovering quickly upon watering. Prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Requires frequent mowing during peak growing season due to rapid growth. High fertilizer requirement for optimal color and density (4-6 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually). High maintenance level overall.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional traffic and wear tolerance, making it ideal for sports fields and high-traffic lawns. Good salt tolerance. Excellent drought recovery via underground rhizomes. Can become invasive in flower beds due to aggressive spreading stolons.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in many parts of the world. Provides excellent soil stabilization and erosion control due to dense root and stolon network. Valued for turf and pasture forage, though common types can be a persistent weed in gardens.