Where are you located?

A. Many of the cultivars in the latest tests are new and not yet available from the producer. You'd have much better luck looking at 2011/2012 tests, most of those have hit the market.

B. I think it means it grows well compared to other KBG. It's not going grow better in the shade than shade tolerant grasses like the fine fescues. For both fescue and KBG, check out the Carbondale, IL and Adelphia, NJ reports, they're both dense shade. Then cross reference the top performing shade cultivars with the genetic color report to find one that is both shade tolerant and has decent genetic color. My guess is you will have to compromise one way or another.

You do not need the absolute darkest TTTF to match Midnight. Most newer cultivars are just as dark as Midnight. The latest I've tried was Cochise IV from Preferred Seed. Color and texture will go nicely with KBG. Bullseye is great also but harder to come buy (I've had it in Prime Time TTTF blend but no longer have a source for it).

Award KBG is still a Midnight type so I doubt the shade performance will be that much better.

j4c11: located in the northeastern area of Illinois. I typically compare my genetic color to WI being that it's in the Madison area, which is only 2.5 hours from me.

mishmost: thanks for the suggestions. I've seen Cochise IV at SSS and have considered it.