Low Speargrass Poa annua
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- POH-ah AN-yoo-uh
- Description
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A member of the grass family (Poaceae), annual bluegrass is a winter annual, clump-forming grass with a yellow-green color, prow-shaped leaf tips, and a distinctive whitish flower head. It is native to temperate regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia. The genus name is derived from the Greek word poa, a pasture grass. The species epithet, annua, means "annual."
Annual bluegrass is primarily a weed of lawns and turfgrass. Preferring moist, shady areas, it emerges from fall through spring, flowers, and then dies with the onset of warm weather. It can be a difficult weed to control, as each plant produces several hundred seeds in a season that can lay dormant years before sprouting. It can be managed by most preemergence herbicides labeled for use on this species.
This specie is not recommended as a turfgrass.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Poa
- Species:
- annua L.
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- P. annua is native to temperate areas of Eurasia and Africa.
- Distribution:
- P. annua is a cosmopolitan grass that is listed as one of the most aggressive weeds invading areas from sea level up to 1200 m in elevation. It can be found from the Arctic to the Antarctic regions in practically all terrestrial ecosystems. It is listed as a weed in 38 crops in more than 80 countries within and outside its native distribution range. It grows in a wide variety of soils, tolerates trampling, mowing, and frozen conditions, and is a frequent weed in areas heavily trafficked by livestock or humans. This species has the potential to outcompete other plants and crops. The list of countries in which this species now occurs may not be complete, as P. annua has spread to almost all areas of the world where temperate and subtropical crops are grown, and to some relatively undisturbed habitats.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The spikelets are stalked, awnless, 1 to 2 cm (3/8 to 3/4 in.) long when flowering, and loosely arranged on delicate paired or spreading branches. The pollen is a known allergen and contributes to hay fever.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are flat, slightly keeled with characteristic 'tramlines'. The leaves are smooth and abruptly contracted at the apices to give a characteristic 'boat-shaped tip'. A further characteristic is that the leaves are often transversely wrinkled. The leaves are folded in the sheath which is smooth and somewhat compressed. Screen reader support enabled.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Weedy
