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Poa secunda J. Presl

Canby blue grass, Curly blue grass, Pine blue grass, Sandberg bluegrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonyms: Poa canbyi, Poa scabrella

USDA Symbol: POSE

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A highly variable, medium-sized bunchgrass with soft, pale- to dark-green leaves and flowering culms to 3 ft. tall; spikelets may be purplish on good forms. Bunches are usually 6 in. across. In dry conditions, leaves wither and go dormant.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , UT , WA , WY
Canada: ON , SK
Native Distribution: Cismontane CA to UT, n. to WA & w. MT
Native Habitat: Open or partly shaded valleys, hillsides or deserts to 5000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Variable.
Conditions Comments: This species is similar to, & possibly not separate from, Poa canbyi. P. canbyi ranges from Yukon, s. to most of CA, e. to Alt., Isle Royale, MI, WY & CO.

Propagation

Description: Sow seed.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Poa secunda in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Poa secunda in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Poa secunda

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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