Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season perennial (C3)
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Fairways
Variety / Cultivar
Common/Mixed Cultivars (Likely 'Midnight' or 'Baron' type based on typical commercial turf appearances)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; excellent cold tolerance; poor heat tolerance in deep south; goes summer dormant in high heat without irrigation.
About This Grass
A dense, lush turfgrass with a soft texture and deep green to blue-green color. When mowed, it creates a carpet-like surface; if left unmowed, it reaches 12-24 inches with open, pyramidal panicle seed heads.
Blade Characteristics
Fine to medium width (2-4mm); V-shaped or flat; distinctive boat-shaped (keeled) tip; smooth texture with a prominent central vein; folded vernation in the bud; short membranous ligule; no auricles.
Root System
Fibrous and rhizomatous; moderate depth; produces significant thatch if not managed; slow to moderate establishment from seed but forms a strong, durable sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, North Asia, and the mountains of Morocco and Algeria; highly adapted to temperate climates worldwide.
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (spreading via underground stems), formings a dense, uniform sod with high self-repair capacity.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred (requires 6+ hours); moderate to high water needs; goes dormant during severe drought to survive; prefers well-drained soil with pH 6.0-7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal height 2.0-3.5 inches; frequent mowing required during peak spring/fall growth; requires 3-5 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; high maintenance level.
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic tolerance and recovery due to rhizomes; susceptible to leaf spot, melting out, and necrotic ring spot; moderate salt tolerance; poor shade tolerance compared to fescues.
Ecological Information
Introduced in North America; provides cover for small mammals and seeds for birds; excellent for soil erosion control due to dense sod; often blended with Perennial Ryegrass or Fine Fescue.