Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass and Sports Turf
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7, excellent cold tolerance, goes into summer dormancy during extreme heat, and widely used in the northern tier and transition zones.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Variety / Cultivar
Midnight (known for dark blue-green color and high density)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, fine to medium-textured turf with an attractive blue-green to dark green color. Maintains height between 1.5 to 2.5 inches when maintained. Produces pyramidal panicle seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Medium-fine blades (2-4mm wide) with distinctive boat-shaped tips, folded in the bud (vernation), prominent parallel veins creating a railroad-track appearance, membranous ligule, and no auricles.
Root System
Moderate depth fibrous root system with extensive aggressive rhizomes, moderate establishment speed, excellent wear recovery, and forms a dense, tough sod that exhibits moderate thatch tendencies.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia; widely naturalized and cultivated across North America
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous, spreading underground via robust rhizomes to form a dense, uniform sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours daily), moderate to high watering needs for optimal appearance, moderate drought dormancy tolerance, and prefers well-drained fertile soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintain mowing height between 2.0 to 3.0 inches, mow weekly during peak growth, requires moderate to high fertilization (3-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year), regular aeration, and high overall maintenance.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and self-repair via rhizomes, moderate shade tolerance, good disease resistance to common turf fungi when properly managed, and exceptional winter color retention in cooler regions.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides good soil stabilization and erosion control, frequently blended with perennial ryegrass and fine fescues for residential and commercial turf applications.