Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jawa, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Guinea, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Rasbak
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Poa
- Species:
- Poa pratensis
- USDA Symbol:
- POPR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Lawn Substitute:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Antaeotricha stenoma, Army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Arugisa latiorella, Black-banded Owlet (Phalaenostola larentioides), bluegrass webworm moth (Parapediasia teterrellus), Brown-lined Owlet Moth (Macrochilo litophora), changeable grass-veneer (Fissicrambus mutabilis), Chionodes psiloptera, Cosmiotes illectella, Dargida procinctus, dingy cutworm (Feltia jaculifera), Euxoa infracta, Eversmann's rustic (Actebia fennica), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), glassy cutworm (Apamea devastator), Gonioterma mistrella, Green Cutworm (Anicla infecta), Lacinipolia meditata, Leucania phragmitidicola, Lucerne Moth (Nomophila nearctica), Pediasia trisecta, stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), topiary grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia topiaria), Variable Owlet Moth (Phalaenostola metonalis), Virginia Ctenucha (Ctenucha virginica), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Common Roadside Skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), ⚠️Dakota Skipper (Hesperia dacotae), Garita Skipperling (Oarisma garita), Great Basin wood-nymph (Cercyonis sthenele), Hegon's roadside skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon), Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba), Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia), Leonard's skipper (Hesperia leonardus), ⚠️Magdalena alpine (Erebia magdalena), Mead's wood-nymph (Cercyonis meadii), Peck's skipper (Polites peckius), 🛑Powesheik skipperling (Oarisma powesheik), Sachem (Atalopedes campestris), Small Wood Satyr (Cercyonis oetus), Tawny-edged Skipper (Polites themistocles), Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Chrysoteuchia topiarius
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes after fire; common in fire-managed grasslands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage preferred
- Moisture:
- moist to moderately dry
- Notes:
- thrives in cool climates with adequate moisture
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily at 60-75°F; light improves germination but is not required.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI