Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common blend, often including cultivars like 'Midnight' or 'Baronie'
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7, tolerates cold winters well but goes into summer dormancy under extreme heat and drought conditions.
About This Grass
Forms a dense, high-quality turf with medium-fine texture and a rich dark green to blue-green color. Mown height typically ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 inches, while unmown plants can reach up to 24 inches with open, pyramidal panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium-fine (2-4mm wide), 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 combined with extensive rhizomes, creating a dense sod. Exhibits moderate establishment speed but excellent self-repairing capabilities.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia, widely naturalized and cultivated across North America and temperate regions worldwide
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous, spreading underground via aggressive underground stems to form a dense, uniform turf
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade (minimum 4-6 hours of direct sunlight). Moderate to high watering needs during dry spells, with good dormancy mechanisms during severe drought.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.0 to 3.0 inches. Requires regular fertilization (3-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually) and moderate to high maintenance level, including periodic dethatching.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and traffic recovery due to rhizomatous growth. Good winter color retention in cooler climates, moderate shade tolerance, and forms an effective dense sod for erosion control.
Ecological Information
Introduced species in North America. Provides good soil stabilization and turf density, often blended with Perennial Ryegrass and Tall Fescue in northern lawn seed mixtures.