Kentucky bluegrass
(Poa pratensis)
This species is Native and Introduced across its range in the United States
Appearance
Poa pratensis, commonly known as Kentucky Bluegrass or Common Meadow-grass, is a perennial species of grass. A long-lived sodgrass with rhizomes, growing 0.5-3 ft. (0.2-0.9 m) tall.
Foliage
Mostly basal, nearly glabrous; blades V-shaped, narrow, 1-7 in. (2.5-17.8 cm) long, with boat-shaped tips and two prominent veins along the center of the upper surface of the leaf which appear as miniature railroad tracks.
Flowers
The flower is its dense seed head. It flowers from May-July.
Fruit
Open, spreading, pyramidal panicle, 2-8 in. (5.1-20.3 cm) long, with panicle branches whorled in groups of 3 to 5; spikelets contain 3 to 5 florets; lemmas awnless but cobwebby-hairy at the base.
Ecological Threat
Poa pratensis grows in lawns, roadsides, and ditches. It is native to Europe, Asia, North America, and northern Africa.
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- California Invasive Plant Council
- City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Significant Threat
- National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
Taxonomic Rank
Kingdom: Plantae |
Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
Class: Liliopsida |
Subclass: Commelinidae |
Order: Cyperales |
Family: Poaceae |
Genus: Poa |
Subject: Poa pratensis L. |
Other System Links
Plants: POPR
Bayer: POAPR
GRIN: 28996
ITIS: 41088
NPDN Pest: PCACKBD
NPDN Host: 22030
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.