Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, perennial, C3 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7, excellent cold tolerance, moderate heat tolerance, often combined in transition zone mixes
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Variety / Cultivar
Standard turf-type cultivars (e.g., 'Midnight', 'Bewitched')
About This Grass
Forms a dense, medium-textured, high-quality turf with a rich dark green to blue-green color. Mown height typically 1.5 to 2.5 inches, with unmowed growth reaching 18 to 24 inches bearing open, pyramidal panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (3-4mm), flat to V-shaped with distinct parallel veins, characteristic boat-shaped tip, folded in the bud (vernation), smooth texture, membranous ligule, and no auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system with strong, aggressive rhizomes that establish dense sod, medium-fast spread, and moderate thatch tendency under high fertility
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia; widely naturalized and cultivated across North America and temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous with extensive underground stems, forming a dense, uniform, spreading turf
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6 hours direct sunlight), moderate to high water needs, moderate drought tolerance (enters summer dormancy during severe drought), prefers well-drained, fertile soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.0 to 3.0 inches, frequent mowing during spring/fall growth peaks, requires 3 to 5 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year, moderate to high maintenance level, regular dethatching and aeration needed
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear tolerance due to aggressive self-repairing rhizomes, good winter color retention in milder climates, susceptible to certain diseases like dollar spot and leaf spot under stress
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides excellent erosion control, highly valued for residential and recreational lawns, can be blended with Perennial Ryegrass and Fescue