Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season Perennial (C3)
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Erosion Control
Variety / Cultivar
Elite-type blend (possibly Midnight or Mazama based on dark green color and high density)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; excellent cold tolerance; poor heat tolerance in the Deep South; becomes dormant in winter and summer extremes
About This Grass
A high-quality turfgrass with a lush, dark green to blue-green color. It forms a dense, uniform carpet. Growing 12-36 inches if left unmowed, it produces open, pyramidal panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-4mm); V-shaped or flat; boat-shaped leaf tips; folded vernation; short membranous ligule; no auricles; glossy underside
Root System
Moderately shallow fibrous root system supplemented by extensive underground rhizomes; high thatch tendency; slow establishment from seed but forms stable sod
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, North Asia, and Morocco; widely adapted across Northern US and Canada
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (spreading underground); forms a thick, dense sod with high regenerative capacity
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred (at least 6-8 hours); moderate to high water needs; enters dormancy during severe drought; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.5
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.0-3.5 inches; weekly mowing; 3-5 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance; requires periodic dethatching
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and recovery due to rhizomes; high aesthetic value; susceptible to leaf spot and dollar spot; low salt tolerance
Ecological Information
Introduced and naturalized in North America; provides forage for wildlife; excellent soil stabilizer for erosion control; often blended with Perennial Ryegrass or Fine Fescue