Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Standard turf-type blends (e.g., 'Midnight', 'Bewitched')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 7, highly cold tolerant, exhibits summer dormancy in hot southern regions.
About This Grass
Forms a lush, dense, medium-textured turf with rich medium to dark green or blue-green coloration. Mowed heights are typically maintained at 1.5 to 2.5 inches, while unmowed grass can reach 18 to 24 inches with open, pyramidal seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (2-4mm), flat to folded with prominent parallel veins and a distinctive boat-shaped tip. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous; auricles are absent.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system combined with extensive rhizomes. Forms a dense, tough sod that establishes slowly from seed but recovers rapidly from wear through rhizome spread.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia, widely naturalized and cultivated across North America and temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous with aggressive underground spreading via rhizomes, forming a dense and uniform turf mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) and moderate to high moisture levels. Moderate drought tolerance, going dormant during extended dry periods. Prefers well-drained, fertile soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height range of 1.5 to 2.5 inches. High maintenance level requiring regular fertilization (3-5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), frequent watering, periodic aeration, and moderate dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear tolerance once established, good cold hardiness, moderate shade tolerance, self-repairing via rhizomes, and forms a superior weed-resistant turf when properly maintained.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides moderate wildlife habitat value, excellent soil stabilization and erosion control due to dense sod, and is commonly blended with Perennial Ryegrass and Fine Fescues.