Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis · Cool-season, Perennial, C3 grass
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Lawn/Turf Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Common blend or unknown cultivar
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7, excellent cold tolerance, fair heat tolerance.
About This Grass
Fine to medium textured turfgrass forming a dense, durable carpet. Medium green to dark green color. Shows seasonal dormancy during severe summer heat or drought.
Blade Characteristics
Medium width (2-4mm), flat to folded with boat-shaped tips and prominent parallel veins. Vernation is folded in the bud with a short membranous ligule and no auricles.
Root System
Moderately deep fibrous root system combined with vigorous rhizomes. Forms a dense sod, moderate thatch tendency, slow to establish from seed.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe, northern Asia, and parts of North America; widely cultivated across temperate regions
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous, spreading extensively via underground runners to form a dense sod
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for optimal performance, moderate to high water needs, fair drought tolerance through summer dormancy, prefers well-drained fertile soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mow at 2.0 to 3.0 inches. High maintenance level requiring regular fertilization (3-4 lbs N per 1000 sq ft annually), frequent watering, and periodic aeration.
Special Characteristics
High wear tolerance and excellent self-repairing capability due to rhizomes. Good disease resistance depending on the cultivar, poor deep-shade tolerance.
Ecological Information
Widely naturalized in North America, provides good soil stabilization and erosion control, frequently blended with perennial ryegrass and fescues.