Alpine Bluegrass
Poa alpina
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Labrador, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sicilia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan
Heinz Staudacher
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Poa
- Species:
- Poa alpina
- USDA Symbol:
- POAL2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 40 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- commonly found in alpine and subalpine meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily after cold stratification. Often produces viviparous plantlets in inflorescence that can be propagated.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: No stratification is required. Germination occurs at 22D/15N C alternating temperature cycle. Germination is greater in dark than light.
Establishment: P. alpina is a circumboreal species found From Alaska to Newfoundland and south through the mountains of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. It also occurs in subalpine to alpine meadows, ridges and talus slopes; from Alaska to Quebec, south in the Cascades to just north of Mt. Rainier, WA., east to northeastern Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and northern Michigan. It is also found throughout Eurasia.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.