Cynodon dactylon

Cynodon dactylon_Bermudagrass_ JM Di Tomaso
Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso

Common names: Bermuda grass; couch grass; devil grass; wire grass; vine grass

Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass) is a creeping perennial grass (family Poaceae) commonly used in garden plantings and as a turf species. However, it can escape cultivation and out-compete native species, particularly in riparian areas.

Cal-IPC Rating: Moderate

Cal-IPC Assessment

Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.

Weed RIC Management Notes

  • Management Notes - Information on management techniques and effectiveness from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Weed Research & Information Center.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

There are no newsletter articles associated with this species yet.

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

  • A gardener’s dream, a land manager’s nightmare: The spread of horticultural invasive plants into the wildlands of Santa Catalina Island. Knapp, John (2004)
  • Grasses working group. Clines, Joanna; DiTomaso, Joe; Meyer, Tanya (2004)
  • Exotic plants in the Sonoran desert region, Arizona and Sonora. Devender, Thomas R. Van; Frlger, Richard S.; M., Alberto Burquez (1997)
  • Stowaways and invited guests: How some exotic plants reached the American southwest. Tellman, Barbara (1997)

Other Cynodon dactylon Information

  • CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
  • Calflora - See the distribution of this species on Calflora's map of California.
  • CalWeedMapper - Distribution information with ability to determine regional priorities.
  • Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
  • USDA PLANTS Database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
  • Bugwood - National database from the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia.