Skip to content

Kentucky Bluegrass

Poa pratensis

Natural monument Na Popovickém kopci

The most common lawn grass in north temperate areas renders this species a persistent colonizer of open dry site vegetat

Poa pratensis, commonly known as Kentucky bluegrass (or blue grass), smooth meadow-grass, or common meadow-grass, is a perennial species of grass native to practically all of Europe, North Asia and the mountains of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. There is disagreement about its native status in North America, with some sources considering it native and others stating the Spanish Empire brought the seeds of Kentucky bluegrass to the New World in mixtures with other grasses. It is a common and incredibly popular lawn grass in North America with the species being spread over all of the cool, humid parts of the United States.

Quick Facts
Scientific name Poa pratensis
Family Poaceae
Height 6-24 in
Bloom time May-Jun
Sun Full sun to part shade
Moisture Mesic
Soil Loam
Wildlife value NON-NATIVE. The standard lawn grass; displaces native sod in unmanaged prairie

Mentioned In

Image Credits

  • Rigel7 (CC0)
  • Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Learn More