Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 pathway
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf, Pasture, and Naturalized Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common/Wild type (Likely a pasture or 'Common' type due to tall, vertical growth and slender blades visible in natural setting)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; excellent cold tolerance; poor heat tolerance in deep south; enters winter dormancy turning tan/brown in extreme cold.
About This Grass
A medium-textured, deep green to blue-green grass that forms a thick sod. When unmowed, it reaches 12-24 inches. It features characteristic boat-shaped leaf tips and narrow panicle seed heads with a pyramidal shape.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width: Fine to medium (2-4mm); Shape: V-shaped or flat; Tip: Distinctly boat-shaped (keeled); Color: Dark green to blue-green; Vernation: Folded in the bud; Ligule: Very short, membranous; Auricles: Absent; Collar: Narrow and divided.
Root System
Fibrous and rhizomatous; moderate depth; high thatch-forming tendency; slow to moderate establishment speed; rhizomes provide excellent recovery from wear and drought dormancy.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, North Asia, and the mountains of Morocco and Algeria; widely naturalized across North America
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (spreading via underground stems), forming a dense, sod-forming mat
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred (6+ hours); moderate shade tolerance in some cultivars; high water requirements during summer; goes dormant during extreme heat/drought; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.5.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.5-3.5 inches; high maintenance level; requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen/1000 sq ft annually; regular aeration and dethatching recommended.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional wear tolerance due to rhizomes; good ability to fill in bare spots; susceptible to leaf spot, melting out, and necrotic ring spot; high salt sensitivity.
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in North America; provides forage for livestock and wildlife; high soil stabilization value for erosion control; often found in mixes with Perennial Ryegrass and Fine Fescue.