Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Grass
Variety / Cultivar
'Midnight' - known for its dark blue-green color, excellent density, and good disease resistance
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7; excellent cold tolerance, moderate heat tolerance, goes dormant in extreme summer heat
About This Grass
Forms a lush, dense, fine-to-medium-textured turf with a rich blue-green color. Reaches up to 18-24 inches if unmowed, but maintained at 1.5-2.5 inches. Produces open, pyramidal panicle seed heads at maturity.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (2-4mm), folded in the bud (vernation), distinctive boat-shaped tips, smooth texture with prominent parallel veins, prominent membranous ligule, and absent auricles
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system combined with strong rhizomes; moderate establishment speed; forms a very tough, durable sod that has moderate thatch-forming tendencies
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe, northern Asia, and parts of the mountainous regions of North America; widely cultivated throughout northern and transitional climates globally
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous, spreading underground via extensive underground stems to form a dense, uniform sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily) and moderate to high moisture; moderate drought tolerance by entering dormancy during severe dry spells; prefers well-drained fertile soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Mowing & Maintenance
Ideal mowing height is 2.0 to 3.0 inches; requires weekly mowing during peak growth; medium-high maintenance needing 3-4 lbs of N per 1000 sq ft annually, regular irrigation, and periodic dethatching/aeration
Special Characteristics
Excellent traffic and wear tolerance due to aggressive rhizomatous recovery, good cold hardiness, moderate shade tolerance compared to fine fescues, highly valued for residential and athletic turf
Ecological Information
Introduced to North America by European settlers; provides good soil stabilization and erosion control, moderate wildlife value for grazing herbivores; often blended with Perennial Ryegrass and Tall Fescue