14 Types of Bermuda Grass With Pictures

Are you in search of the right turf for your lawn, something that can exude greenery all around? A lush green carpeted garden adds elegance and class. The ideal grass that radiates this beauty is none but the Bermuda grass. But there is not just one variant out there! Knowing the many types of Bermuda grass lets you choose the appropriate one that suits your lifestyle, climate, and location.

Introducing the Bermuda grass

Also known as the Cynodon dactylon, Bermuda grass is a turf that traces its origin to South Africa. It is also known as crabgrass, scotch grass, and wiregrass. The species can be easily identified by its narrow grass blades, which are usually rich green and varies from 2 to 15 cm in length. The grass is hardy and grows vigorously, offering a lively backdrop through the year. It is not high maintenance and withstands high foot traffic. The Bermuda grass makes it easy to decorate your garden.

Bermuda grass is broadly divided into the seeded and hybrid variety.

  • Seeded Bermudagrass – The seeded variety is the grass that propagates from seeds. The adult plant produces seeds, and the grain is then dispersed on the ground. The seed variety Bermuda grass has a fine texture and offers a dense and greener turf. Because of their thick growth, these can easily withstand heavy foot traffic.
  • Hybrid Bermuda grass – The hybrid Bermuda grass is created as a cross. These also produce thick grass patches with narrow and green leaves. Because these have been produced by genetic modification, they are more resistant to diseases than the seed variant. The variant produces seed heads but with no seeds. They establish using the vegetative option.

This article covers most of the Bermuda grass types that are readily available, letting you pick the right one for your garden.

Types of Bermuda Grass

Here are some of the common types of Bermuda grass.

1. Blackjack Grass

Blackjack Grass

The Blackjack Bermuda is a seeded type that produces an intense shade of green grass. It can thrive in a warm climate but also tolerates the harsh winter months. If you desire a thick green blanket of grass in your garden, then the Blackjack variant could be the best fit for you. It adds density and thickness with a tinge of glossiness. The grass grows fast in establishing roots and in coverage

2. Ormond Bermuda Grass

Ormond Bermuda Grass

The Ormond Bermuda has thin and small leaves, which make it different from the other varieties. It has a slight bluish tinge. The grass is less dense, but since it is resilient to most of the diseases that affect the leaves, the Ormond variety stands out because it requires very low maintenance. These are usually used in playgrounds and stadiums, or sports fields. Most golf courses also make use of the Ormond Bermuda grass variety. If you, however live in a harsh weather condition, then you may want to avoid this grass.

3. Jackpot Bermuda Grass

Jackpot Bermuda Grass

A true blend of functionality and style, the Jackpot Bermuda grass offers low density and moderate leaf thickness. It makes the ground look fancy, and in case someone falls in a garden covered with this Bermuda grass type, then they would not be injured or wounded. This is the reason why most baseball fields grow the Jackpot Bermuda grass. You must be careful about sourcing the grass from a reliable place because that will affect the quality of growth.

4. Yuma

Yuma bermuda grass

This is a seeded Bermuda grass variant that, when matures, reflects an emerald hue. The grass finds use in golf courses. The grass tolerates full exposure to the sun and does not need a lot of water. Its growth is stunted, which means that you do not have to prune and mow it continuously. The variety can be grown from its seeds but also from its sod that makes the growth easier and faster. Its leaf texture is fine, which gives the garden a luxurious look.

5. Oasis Blend

Oasis Blend

The Oasis blend is a low-maintenance Bermuda grass variant that can bear huge amounts of stress caused by pedestrians moving on it. If you wish to grow your garden in a short period, then this is the go-to turf variant. Even after excessive foot traffic, the grass continues to shine. This is the reason why most sports grounds and playgrounds use this grass variety.

6. La Prima

La Prima

The La Prima is a seeded Bermuda grass. It is a blend of the Sahara turf and the La Paloma, which makes it’s characteristic close to the hybrid variety. It has a fine leaf texture and is resilient to diseases. The grass is cheap to purchase and grows fast. It is low maintenance and thus popular among many.

7. Sahara

Sahara

The Sahara Bermuda grass is the perfect addition to your garden if you live in a hot climate. The Sahara variety survives under extreme heat. It is a high-quality spread that glazes even under the scorching sun, and the best part is that this turf is highly affordable. The grass is also wear-resistant. It survives well without any fertilizers.

8. Princess 77

Princess 77 gets its name because of its delicate and fragile texture, which makes this Bermuda grass variant royal. The grass variety is perfect if you wish to add a little sophistication to your backyard.

9. Triangle Blend

Triangle Blend

The Triangle blend can withstand extreme temperature without it affecting its luster. The grass variant has medium or fine blades which can tolerate extreme cold as well as drought-like conditions. It grows very fast, so you will need to keep mowing your garden. It is best to mow once the grass reaches a height of 2 inches.

10. Tifway 419 grass

One of the toughest Bermuda grass varieties out there, Tifway 419, is quick to establish its root, grow, or spread. It is a sought-after and famous grass cover used in the sports ground. Owing to its dense and recuperative nature, the grass also finds use because of its growth pattern. After it is exposed to repeated frost, the grass goes dormant. Still, as soon as the temperature reaches 45 degrees, the grass starts to grow again.

11. Tifton 85 grass

The grass is a hybrid between the Tifton 68 and the PI 290884. The former is a pasture grass that can tolerate shallow temperatures. The latter is tolerant to drought. The Bermuda grass variety grows tall with a dark green color. It has large stems and broad leaves. Because of this, the grass finds use in the pasture lands.

12. Mohawk

Mohawk

The Mohawk grass is a high-quality variant with delicate and deep green colored blades. The grass can tolerate harsh winter conditions and is hardy. It becomes dormant in the winter months, but it starts to grow again when the temperature increases. The grass was produced in Arizona in the Mohawk valley, and thus it gets its name from there. Mohawk grass can grow in soil with a high saline concentration.

12. Coastal Bermuda grass

Coastal Bermuda grass

The coastal Bermuda grass is perennial forage. It is hay and pasture grass. What sets it a bit back is that it needs high maintenance. The grass has many seed heads even though it does not produce many seeds. The grass can tolerate various soil conditions.

13. Ukon

Yukon is a seeded Bermuda grass species that has a high tolerance to cold. It boasts of rich green color that extends towards the upside, making the turf look beautiful. You must purchase the seed from a good quality store.

Why should you grow the Bermuda grass?

Bermuda grass is a preferred option in most gardens because of the following reasons.

  • The Bermuda grass is beautiful but functional too. It has a rhizome root system that is highly extensive which lets the turf grow even in the harshest of conditions.
  • The grass can tolerate various diseases, which means it is required low maintenance.
  • It can easily grow in hard and sandy soils as well as in the coastal areas.
  • There is a range of varieties and cultivars that you can choose from.
  • It is forage grass, and some variants also save people from injuries if they fall on it.

Conclusion

Irrelevant of the type of Bermuda grass you choose to plant in your garden, it is easy to plant and maintain this grass species, especially if you use herbicides like “weed and feed“. Not all Bermuda grasses would grow well in every place, and they may have different demands in terms of the weather conditions. So you should educate yourself or take the help of a professional who can guide you on choosing the best Bermuda grass variant for your garden. There is Bermuda grass for every garden, and a specialist will check the soil conditions and the weather to suggest a turf. So get ready to flaunt a green and elegant garden

About Jennifer Igra

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York City known for it’s green gardens. Jennifer, a 30 year old gardener and green living fanatic started Igra World to share her gardening journey and increase gardening awareness among masses. Follow Igra World to improve your gardening skills.

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