Popular Bermuda Grass Varieties in the Carolinas

Bermuda grass, one of the most popular warm season grass varieties in the world, is very well suited for the Carolinas. Because of its ability to thrive in extremely warm weather conditions while still being able to withstand mild winters, bermuda grass thrives in the transition zone and southernmost areas of the Carolinas. Bermuda grass spreads via rhizomes, stolons and seeds, making it tough and able to continually grow and spread. It can be installed with bermuda grass plugs, sod or seed. It’s fine-textured leaves and dense growing pattern give bermuda grass a beautiful look that homeowners love. Here are a few other reasons why bermuda grass is the best grass for North and South Carolina:

Celebration Bermudagrass

This stunning deep blue-green grass has finished first in multiple university studies for wear tolerance and recovery, bermuda grass shade tolerance, and drought resistance and tolerance. Celebration® Bermudagrass is so tough against wear and tear while also aesthetically beautiful, making it the top choice for some of the most renowned sports fields and golf courses in the world. With that being said, Celebration is also a great pick for homeowners in the Carolinas who want a tough yard with major curb appeal.

Celebration is a finer-bladed bermuda grass with an exceptional root system that allows for rapid recovery time. Its wear tolerance makes it a great choice for pets and kids to play on all day long. Be sure to check out a research summary on Celebration to see how it compares to some of the other bermuda grasses available.

Celebration Bermudagrass Characteristics

• Ideal Use: Golf, commercial landscapes, sports fields, parks and home lawns
• Mow Height: 0.5–1.5 inches
• Wear Tolerance: Excellent
• Injury Recovery: Excellent
• Shade Tolerance: Very Good
• Drought Tolerance: Excellent
• Insect Resistance: Very Good
• Disease Resistance: Excellent
• Weed Control: Very Good

Latitude 36 Bermudagrass

This grass, developed at the University of Oklahoma, is one of the most cold-hardy bermuda grasses on the market for those Carolina homeowners who live closer to the upstate and in the North Carolina transition zones. Additionally, Latitude 36® Bermudagrass shows resistance to spring dead spot and is highly durable in the face of traffic and wear. The extremely fine, soft texture of Latitude 36 give it a unique look and feel that makes for stunning visual appeal. Latitude 36 is known for its beautiful color and texture that make it stand out from other home lawns and bermuda grasses alike. Check out a few of Latitude 36’s supporting research documents below.

Latitude 36 Bermudagrass Characteristics

• Ideal Use: Golf, commercial landscapes, sports fields, parks and home lawns
• Mow Height: 0.5–1.5 inches
• Wear Tolerance: Very Good
• Injury Recovery: Excellent
• Shade Tolerance: Good
• Drought Tolerance: Excellent
• Insect Resistance: Very Good
• Disease Resistance: Excellent
• Weed Control: Very Good

NorthBridge Bermudagrass

One of the newest grasses to come out of Oklahoma State’s Selection program, NorthBridge® Bermudagrass checks many of the boxes Carolina homeowners hope for: fine texture, improved cold tolerance, early spring green-up and the ability to stand up to cold temperatures. Like Latitude 36, NorthBridge demonstrates exceptional performance in warmer areas throughout South Carolina as well as upstate South Carolina and into the transition zones where North Carolina is located. Its tensile strength and aggressive rooting make it one of the most durable choices for homeowners with children and pets who enjoy the outdoors. This easy-to-maintain grass is becoming more and more popular for not only home application, but also commercial and sports because of its unique set of sought-after features. Be sure to take a look at a study comparing NorthBridge’s shade tolerance with other bermuda grasses below.

NorthBridge Bermudagrass Characteristics

• Ideal Use: Commercial landscapes, golf, sports fields and home lawns
• Mow Height: 0.5–1.5 inches
• Wear Tolerance: Very Good
• Injury Recovery: Excellent
• Shade Tolerance: Good
• Drought Tolerance: Excellent
• Insect Resistance: Very Good
• Disease Resistance: Excellent
• Weed Control: Very Good

Tifway 419 Bermudagrass

This grass is both durable and beautiful—its dense growing pattern make it a great choice for Carolina homeowners whose lawns receive a lot of wear and tear. Tifway 419 Bermudagrass’s dark color and medium-fine texture boasts a medium-to-low growing pattern for homeowners who like a tight, dense look. Lastly, Tifway 419 thrives in the southern two-thirds of the United States which includes areas located throughout the states of North and South Carolina.

Tifway 419 Bermudagrass Characteristics

• Ideal Use: Commercial landscapes, golf, sports fields and home lawns
• Mow Height: 1–2 inches
• Wear Tolerance: Very Good
• Injury Recovery: Very Good
• Shade Tolerance: Good
• Drought Tolerance: Very Good
• Insect Resistance: Excellent
• Disease Resistance: Very Good
• Weed Control: Very Good

TifTuf Bermudagrass

Loved for its ability to withstand drought, TifTuf Bermudagrass needs 38 percent less water than similar cultivars—a plus when it comes to those long, hot Carolina summers. This grass is also shade tolerant and keeps its green color long into the fall season when temperatures begin to drop and other bermuda grasses go dormant. TifTuf has a fine-textured, leafy green growing pattern.

TifTuf Bermudagrass Characteristics

• Ideal Use: Commercial landscapes, golf, sports fields and home lawns
• Mow Height: 0.5–2 inches
• Wear Tolerance: Excellent
• Injury Recovery: Excellent
• Shade Tolerance: Very Good
• Drought Tolerance: Excellent
• Insect Resistance: Good
• Disease Resistance: Good
• Weed Control: Good

It is important to know all of your options so that you can make the best, informed choice when installing a new turfgrass variety at home. Oftentimes, the best turfgrass variety all depends on what you are looking for and what the lawn’s environment presents. The above turfgrass selection demonstrates some of the top-performing bermuda grass cultivars for the Carolinas and their diverse climates. Be sure to take a look at a few recommended articles like The Best Grass for Low Maintenance in the Carolinas and The Best Grass for Shade in the Carolinas for more information.

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