Annual Bluegrass
Poa annua
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Is., China, Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Hainan, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., Kuwait, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 10:06, 7 May 2007 (UTC)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Poa
- Species:
- Poa annua
- USDA Symbol:
- POAN
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), glassy cutworm (Apamea devastator), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- often found in disturbed areas and compacted soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–28 days
- Notes:
- Germinates readily in cool temperatures; light aids germination. Prolific seed producer with multiple generations per year.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI