Bermudagrass - Giant

Bermudagrass is an aggressive, long lived,  warm-season perennial sod forming grass that can become 8 to 18 inches tall. Bermudagrass origin is likely Africa though other regions offer evidence of origin. Bermudagrass requires full sun and prefers well drained soils but can produce well on moderately shallow sites under irrigation and good management. Generally bermudagrass does not tolerate poor draining or wet soils. Bermudagrass will tolerate some saline soils. While bermudagrass can persist on infertile soils, high nitrogen levels are needed for best appearance and/or production. It has good forage value for all classes of livestock but is of little value for wildlife.

Bermudagrass seed has an outer, protective, seed coat. When sold with this seed coat intact it is referred to as un-hulled bermudagrass seed. Un-hulled bermudagrass requires longer to germinate but is more hardy and less likely to sprout pre-maturely. Hulled bermudagrass seed can access water easier than un-hulled and therefore can sprout and establish quicker. However, if conditions are not optimal, hulled bermudagrass may sprout quickly and then die.

Giant bermudagrass is a naturalized diploid form of Cynodon dactylon. Giant bermudagrass seed  is 50% larger than common seed and at maturity the grass can be over 24 inches tall compared to common which normally 8 to 18 inches tall. Giant is a vigorous upright grass adapted for pasture and hay. It is much less cold tolerant than common. Giant does well in lower humidity climates.

Giant is sometimes referred to as NK-37. NK-37 is a diploid strain of common bermudagrass (giant) that was sourced from an island in the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona in 1938. Sourced seed was grown and then selected for superior growth habit, vigor, disease resistance, and seed productiveness. The variety NK-37 was distributed for testing and sale as early as 1957 via the Northrup Seed Company.