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Common Name: Kentucky Blue Grass

General Information

Poa pratensis is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Most of Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa, temperate Asia and N. America.

Habitat

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

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

Edible Uses

One report suggests that it might be edible but gives no details[]. 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.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

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.