Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7, exhibits good cold tolerance but can struggle with extreme summer heat without irrigation.
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Variety / Cultivar
Midnight (known for dark blue-green color and dense growth)
About This Grass
Forms a dense, medium-textured turf with rich dark green to blue-green color. Mown height typically maintained at 2-3 inches, while unmowed growth can reach 18-24 inches with pyramidal seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (2-4mm), flat to folded with prominent parallel veins and distinctive boat-shaped tips. Vernation is folded in the bud with a short membranous ligule and absent auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes. Moderate to high thatch-forming tendency, slow to establish from seed, but excellent self-repairing wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia; widely naturalized and cultivated across North America and temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Aggressively rhizomatous, forming a dense, uniform sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (minimum 6-8 hours daily), moderate to high watering needs, enters dormancy during severe drought, prefers well-drained fertile soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height of 2.0 to 3.0 inches. Medium to high maintenance level, requiring regular fertilization (3-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), periodic aeration, and dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear recovery via rhizomes, moderate shade tolerance, good winter color retention in milder cool zones, highly valued for residential and sports turf.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America, provides good soil stabilization and erosion control, often blended with perennial ryegrass and fescues for resilient turf mixes.