Poa pratensis - Kentucky Blue Grass

Family:	Gramineae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa, temperate Asia and N. America.

Poa pratensis (Kentucky Blue Grass) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 3.
Kentucky Blue Grass will flower in November to January. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Kentucky Blue Grass will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Kentucky Blue Grass prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Kentucky Blue Grass should not be planted in shady areas.

Meadows and grassy places, it is also found on dunes[17]. Common and widespread in Britain, but it is only found on mountains in the south of its range[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• Planted in the lawn
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[200]. A polymorphic species[17]. It can be grown in lawns[1].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
One report suggests that it might be edible but gives no details[177]. It is quite probably referring to the seed (which is small and very fiddly too utilize) but might be referring to the base of the leaf stems, which is eaten in one other member of this genus.

• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in the spring in a cold frame. Do not allow the compost to dry out. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in the spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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