Kentucky Bluegrass

Poa pratensis

Not native to Kentucky

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Kentucky.

Plant this instead

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Fowl Bluegrass
Poa palustris
Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, light
Different: bloom season
Winter Bentgrass
Agrostis hyemalis
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Different: spread
Oval-leaf Sedge
Carex cephalophora
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

Photographs are not available yet.

Ecological relationships

35CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Poa

Show all 35

Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
Fissicrambus mutabilisStriped Webworm, Striped Sodworm, Changeable Grass-Veneer
Hesperia leonardusLeonard's Skipper, Blazing Star Skipper, Pawnee Prairie Skipper, Pawnee Montane Skipper
Hylephila phyleusFiery Skipper
Lacinipolia meditataThe Thinker
Leucania phragmitidicolaNeedle Wainscot, Phragmites Wainscot
Lon hobomokHobomok Skipper
Lon zabulonZabulon Skipper
Macrochilo litophoraAngulate Fan-Foot, Brown-Lined Owlet
Marimatha nigrofimbriaBlack-Bordered Lemon
Megisto cymelaLittle Wood Satyr
Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
Nephelodes miniansBronzed Cutworm
Nomophila nearcticaLucerne Moth, American Celery Webworm
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Parapediasia teterrellusBluegrass Webworm
Pediasia trisectaSod Webworm Moth, Larger Sod Webworm
Phalaenostola larentioidesBlack-Banded Owlet, Black-Banded Phalaenostola
Phalaenostola metonalisPale Epidelta, Pale Phalaenostola
Polites corasPeck's Skipper, Yellow-Patch Skipper
Polites themistoclesTawny-Edged Skipper
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Elachista illectella
Gonioterma mistrella

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

9BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Poa

Growing and identification

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Mid spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “Gray/silver, green or purple” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Spreads by rhizomes” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–7b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “3.9996 inches–2 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Neutral to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “6 inches” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Kentucky Bluegrass