Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Poeae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common or Elite Blend (e.g., Midnight, Baron)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 2-7; excellent cold tolerance; poor heat tolerance in the deep South (Hardiness Zone 8+).
About This Grass
A dense, carpet-like grass with a rich dark green to blue-green color. It grows 12-24 inches if unmowed, producing a panicle seed head. It exhibits high density and a fine to medium texture.
Blade Characteristics
Blade width 2-4mm (medium); flat or slightly folded; characteristic boat-shaped (keeled) tip; dark green color; folded vernation; membranous ligule; no auricles.
Root System
Fibrous and rhizomatous; moderate depth; high thatch-forming tendency; slow establishment from seed but forms a powerful, dense sod once matured.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe and Northern Asia; well-adapted to temperate, cool-humid climates
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (spreading via underground creepers), forming a dense, self-repairing sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun preferred (6+ hours); moderate shade tolerance; high water needs; moderate drought tolerance (enters dormancy during extreme heat/dry spells).
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing height 2.0-3.5 inches; moderate to high frequency; 2-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft per year; high maintenance level requiring periodic aeration.
Special Characteristics
Excellent wear tolerance and recovery due to rhizomes; good disease resistance in modern cultivars; ability to go dormant and recover from drought; high aesthetic appeal.
Ecological Information
Introduced/Naturalized in North America; provides cover for small wildlife; excellent soil stabilizer for erosion control; often blended with Perennial Ryegrass or Fine Fescues.