Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass and Pastoral/Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Standard turf-type blend (e.g., common amenity varieties)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 7, possessing excellent cold tolerance and moderate heat tolerance.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, medium-textured turf with a rich green to blue-green color. Mown turf is low-growing and uniform, but unmowed plants can reach 18 to 24 inches with open, pyramidal panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-width (2-4mm), flat or folded, with distinct boat-shaped tips and prominent parallel veins giving a tramline appearance. Vernation is folded in the bud.
Root System
Fibrous and moderately deep with extensive underground rhizomes. Moderate establishment speed, forms a very tough and dense sod that resists wear and erosion.
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, spreading sod via underground stems.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for optimal growth (tolerates very light partial shade). Needs regular moisture during dry spells, with moderate to high water requirements and moderate drought dormancy.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.0 to 3.5 inches. Medium-high maintenance level, requiring regular fertilization (2-4 lbs N/1000 sq ft/year) and periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear tolerance due to aggressive rhizomatous spread, good winter color retention in milder cool climates, and strong ability to crowd out weeds.
Ecological Information
Introduced to North America by European settlers. Provides excellent soil stabilization, erosion control, and moderate wildlife value for grazing herbivores and ground-nesting birds.