Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass)

Poa pratensis

Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso

Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) is a perennial grass (family Poaceae) that has escaped cultivation and is found sporadically in many different habitats in California. Kentucky bluegrass can produce 200 seeds per panicle in the first year and the species increases with grazing and burning. Kentucky bluegrass out competes with native species, reducing overall diversity and altering species composition.

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: Limited

Cal-IPC Resources on Poa pratensis

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. (None for this species.)
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium. List of articles on Poa pratensis.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• None for this species.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• Quinn, L., B. Davis, et al. (2006). Does horse manure harbor invasive plants? Cal-IPC Symposium. Rohnert Park, CA.

Other Resources on Poa pratensis

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Management Summary - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.

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