Kentucky Bluegrass (Visible in background)
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or 'Midnight' type blend
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; excellent cold tolerance; enters dormancy in hot summers or freezing winters.
About This Grass
A dense, mat-forming turf grass that is dark green in color. It grows 12-24 inches if unmowed, producing open, pyramidal panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-4mm), V-shaped or flat, with a distinct boat-shaped tip and two clear 'translucent' lines along the midrib. Folded in the bud, ligule is short/membranous, auricles absent.
Root System
Relatively shallow to moderate fibrous root system supported by vigorous rhizomes; high thatch tendency and excellent sod-building capabilities.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia; widely naturalized in North America
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (spreading via underground stems)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred (minimum 6 hours); high water requirements; dormant during severe drought/heat; prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil.
Mowing & Maintenance
1.5 to 3.5 inches height; frequency increases in spring/fall; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic recovery due to rhizomes; poor shade tolerance; moderate disease resistance to leaf spot and dollar spot; forms high-quality, uniform sod.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized; provides some cover for small wildlife; excellent soil stabilizer for erosion control; often mixed with Perennial Ryegrass or Fine Fescue.