diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 1d57425272..063c060969 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ jobs:
       - gradlew-build
       - run: ./gradlew shenandoahTest
       - run: ./gradlew zgcTest
+      - run: ./gradlew zgcGenerationalTest
 
   build-jdk11:
     executor: circle-jdk11-executor
diff --git a/micrometer-core/build.gradle b/micrometer-core/build.gradle
index 7f307d8814..214159213f 100644
--- a/micrometer-core/build.gradle
+++ b/micrometer-core/build.gradle
@@ -225,6 +225,17 @@ task zgcTest(type: Test) {
     jvmArgs '-XX:+UseZGC'
 }
 
+task zgcGenerationalTest(type: Test) {
+    // set heap size for the test JVM(s)
+    maxHeapSize = "1500m"
+
+    useJUnitPlatform {
+        includeTags 'gc'
+    }
+
+    jvmArgs '-XX:+UseZGC', '-XX:+ZGenerational'
+}
+
 task openj9BalancedTest(type: Test) {
     // set heap size for the test JVM(s)
     maxHeapSize = "1500m"
diff --git a/micrometer-core/src/main/java/io/micrometer/core/instrument/binder/jvm/JvmGcMetrics.java b/micrometer-core/src/main/java/io/micrometer/core/instrument/binder/jvm/JvmGcMetrics.java
index 8ef382752b..854bc580d1 100644
--- a/micrometer-core/src/main/java/io/micrometer/core/instrument/binder/jvm/JvmGcMetrics.java
+++ b/micrometer-core/src/main/java/io/micrometer/core/instrument/binder/jvm/JvmGcMetrics.java
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ enum GcGenerationAge {
                 put("GPGC Old Cycles", OLD); // new naming
                 put("GPGC New Pauses", YOUNG); // new naming
                 put("GPGC Old Pauses", OLD); // new naming
+                put("ZGC Major Cycles", OLD); // do not include 'ZGC Major Pauses'; see
+                                              // gh-2872
             }
         };
 
diff --git a/micrometer-core/src/main/java/io/micrometer/core/instrument/binder/jvm/JvmMemory.java b/micrometer-core/src/main/java/io/micrometer/core/instrument/binder/jvm/JvmMemory.java
index a0c2567f2a..bcff3e4117 100644
--- a/micrometer-core/src/main/java/io/micrometer/core/instrument/binder/jvm/JvmMemory.java
+++ b/micrometer-core/src/main/java/io/micrometer/core/instrument/binder/jvm/JvmMemory.java
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ static boolean isConcurrentPhase(String cause, String name) {
     }
 
     static boolean isAllocationPool(String name) {
-        return name != null && (name.endsWith("Eden Space") || "Shenandoah".equals(name) || "ZHeap".equals(name)
+        return name != null && (name.endsWith("Eden Space") || "Shenandoah".equals(name) || "ZHeap".equals(name) // ZGC
+                                                                                                                 // non-generational
+                || "ZGC Young Generation".equals(name) // generational ZGC
                 || name.endsWith("New Gen") // Zing GPGC
                 || name.endsWith("nursery-allocate") || name.endsWith("-eden") // "balanced-eden"
                 || "JavaHeap".equals(name) // metronome
@@ -51,9 +53,10 @@ static boolean isAllocationPool(String name) {
 
     static boolean isLongLivedPool(String name) {
         return name != null && (name.endsWith("Old Gen") || name.endsWith("Tenured Gen") || "Shenandoah".equals(name)
-                || "ZHeap".equals(name) || name.endsWith("balanced-old") || name.contains("tenured") // "tenured",
-                                                                                                     // "tenured-SOA",
-                                                                                                     // "tenured-LOA"
+                || "ZHeap".equals(name) // ZGC non-generational
+                || "ZGC Old Generation".equals(name) // generational ZGC
+                || name.endsWith("balanced-old") //
+                || name.contains("tenured") // "tenured", "tenured-SOA", "tenured-LOA"
                 || "JavaHeap".equals(name) // metronome
         );
     }