Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 7. Excellent cold tolerance, goes semi-dormant and turns brown during severe summer heat or prolonged drought.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Variety / Cultivar
Standard commercial blend
About This Grass
Forms a lush, dark green to blue-green dense carpet with fine to medium texture. Height ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 inches when maintained, but can reach 18 to 24 inches if left unmowed. Features open, pyramidal panicle seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Medium-fine width (2-3mm), flat to folded shape with distinct boat-shaped tips and prominent parallel veins. Vernation is folded in the bud. Ligule is short and membranous, and auricles are absent.
Root System
Moderate to deep fibrous root system with extensive underground rhizomes. Moderate establishment speed, forms a strong, durable sod, but has a moderate to high thatch-forming tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia; widely naturalized and cultivated across North America and temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous, forming a dense, uniform turf through aggressive underground spreading stems
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6 hours daily) to partial shade. Needs moderate to high watering during dry periods, with fair to good drought dormancy capabilities. Prefers well-drained, fertile soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintain mowing height between 2.0 and 3.0 inches. Requires regular fertilization (3-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), periodic dethatching, and aeration due to high thatch accumulation. Maintenance level is considered High.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear and traffic tolerance with excellent self-repairing capabilities via rhizomes. Moderate resistance to common turf diseases, poor shade tolerance compared to fescues, and good cold hardiness.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and erosion control due to dense root and rhizome network. Frequently blended with perennial ryegrass and fine fescues for home lawns and athletic fields.