Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae, tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf and Pasture Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Native/Common type (shown in background of foreground legume)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-7; excellent cold tolerance but poor heat tolerance in southern climates.
About This Grass
A medium-textured, high-density grass known for its dark green to blue-green color. It reaches 6-20 inches tall when unmowed, featuring a panicle seed head that is pyramid-shaped and open.
Blade Characteristics
Width: 2-4mm; Shape: Flat or slightly V-shaped; Tip: Distinctive boat-shaped; Color: Dark green to midnight blue-green; Vernation: Folded; Ligule: Very short and membranous; Auricles: Absent
Root System
Strongly rhizomatous with a fibrous root system of moderate depth; forms a thick thatch layer; high sod-forming ability with excellent wear recovery.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe, Northern Asia, and North Africa; widely naturalized in North America
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (spreading via underground stems), forming a dense sod mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (minimum 6 hours) preferred; moderate to high water needs; enters dormancy during severe drought; prefers pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
1.5 to 3.5 inches; moderate to high maintenance; requires 2-5 lbs N/1000 sq ft annually; needs periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent self-repairing ability via rhizomes; high traffic tolerance; susceptible to leaf spot and dollar spot; dormant in summer heat.
Ecological Information
Introduced but naturalized; provides significant soil stabilization and erosion control; used in mixes with Fine Fescues or Perennial Ryegrass; provides grazing for livestock and cover for small mammals.