Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass, Sports Turf, Golf Course Fairway
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Elite-type Bluegrass (e.g., 'Midnight' or 'Baron' based on dark green hue and medium density)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; excellent cold tolerance; poor performance in deep South heat; goes dormant in winter.
About This Grass
A dark green, medium-density turf grass that forms a thick sod. It goes dormant and turns brown during extreme summer heat or winter cold. Seed heads are open, airy panicles shaped like a pyramid.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 2-4mm (medium); V-shaped or flat; distinctive 'boat-shaped' tip; folded vernation; ligule is short and membranous; auricles are absent; color is deep emerald to blue-green.
Root System
Moderately shallow fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes; high thatch-forming tendency; slower establishment from seed but forms a powerful, self-repairing sod.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, North Asia, and Morocco; naturalized across North America
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (underground spreading stems), mat-forming, dense sod habit
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred (6+ hours); moderate shade tolerance; high water requirements for peak appearance; excellent drought dormancy but low drought avoidance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.0 to 3.5 inches; high maintenance; requires 2-4 lbs Nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually; needs periodic dethatching and aeration.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance and self-healing ability due to rhizomes; susceptible to leaf spot, melting out, and necrotic ring spot; moderate salt tolerance.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in US; provides cover for small foraging birds; high value for erosion control on slopes; often blended with Perennial Ryegrass or Fine Fescue.