• There are several varieties of Bermuda grass.grass image by ana malin from Fotolia.com
  
  Bermuda grass is the secret behind many of Southern America's immaculate green lawns, sports fields, and golf courses. They are a work in progress; scientists search for strains to match consumers' new lower watering requirements. According to University of Florida experts Philip Busey and Albert E. Dudeck, "Bermuda grass is a complex of interbreeding species undergoing rapid evolution through natural selection and human intervention."
  
  

Sundevil (Cynodon dactylon)

• Sundevil is a short, hardy, nonflowering variety of Bermuda grass with light green blades that grows 3 to 6 inches in height. Sundevil prefers full sun, requires a small to medium amount of watering, and is hardy between USDA zones 7 and 10. Sundevil is grown as a turf grass in the U.S. South (a turf grass is any variety of grass used as turf, i.e., for residential and commercial properties). Sundevil tolerates wear from sports activities and general foot traffic, and excludes weeds commonly found in lawns by the habit of forming a tough, dense mat that weeds cannot compete with. Plants are tolerant of drought; they grow easily in a wide variety of soils, preferring good drainage. Lawns planted from Sundevil seeds require mowing to between 3/4 and 1 1/2 inches tall. To stop this vigorous plant from spreading into beds and nearby meadows, barriers of plastic, wood, or gravel are required. Sundevil experiences problems with temperatures under 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Lawns of Sundevil Bermuda grass require dethatching on a regular basis to maintain health.
  
  

African Bermuda Grass (Cynodon transvaalensis)

• African Bermuda grass is a finely-textured turf grass with a yellow tinge to the fine leaves and short stems. It's a native of South Africa, and only 15 plants of this type of Bermuda grass are listed in the U.S., according to a USGA-sponsored research program. Advantages of African Bermuda grass include a more dense habit (from a high shoot density), and finer texture than other kinds of turf grass, which produces a lawn more pleasant to walk on with bare feet. Disadvantages include a more yellow than green color, and a requirement of richer soil and more watering. It is possible African Bermuda grasses were the original source of Bermuda grasses (which are not native American plants) in the U.S. David M. Kopec, Extension Turf Grass Specialist, suggests, "The origin of the first introduction of Bermuda grass most likely came from contaminated hay, which was used as bedding, when slaves were brought to America. Millions and millions of seeds were distributed initially across the eastern United States."
  
  

Sunturf (C. magennissii)

• Sunturf is a dark green, finely-textured, and low-growing turf grass with a dense habit, which is used for lawns in the American southwest. Sunturf is a natural hybrid from South Africa that arrived in the U.S. in 1949, formed by the mixture of African Bermuda grass (C. transvaalensis) and sundevil (C. dactylon). Sunturf flourishes in USDA transitional zones, where lower winter temperatures prevail.