Poa compressa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- POH-ah kom-PRESS-uh
- Description
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Canada Bluegrass is a perennial ornamental grass, native to Europe and China, but found all over the world. It was introduced into North America as a source of forage for dry pastures with poor soil and has since spread into other areas. It ranges in height from 3/4 of an inch to 2 feet with 4 inch long, green or grayish blue, leaf blades. The individual flowers (called spikelets) are small, 1/4 inch long, flat, and yellow to grayish blue with a pair of enveloping bracts (called glumes) at the bottom. These spikelets are arranged on a 4 inch long panicle and briefly bloom in summer.
Canada Bluegrass does best in full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and slightly acidic sandy, rocky, or clay soil.
The root system is rhizomatous, which can sometimes spread into clonal colonies of plants, especially in dry or sterile soils. It is slow to spread, but is considered invasive in Connecticut. It is considered a "number 3" threat in North Carolina (it displays invasive characteristics and is occasionally observed encroaching upon native plant communities in North Carolina).
Diseases and Insect Pests:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Poa
- Species:
- compressa
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, China
- Distribution:
- Introduced to North America, South America, South Africa, central and eastern Europe.
- Wildlife Value:
- Many insects feed on this grass and game birds and songbirds feed on the seeds.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Mature grains are very small, ellipsoid in shape, and light tan to brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Each fertile stem terminates in an open panicle of spikelets (the flower cluster for grasses and sedges) about 1½ to 5 inches long with each individual spikelet being about 1/4 inch long. The panicle and its surrounding branches are slender and wiry, dull green or grayish blue in color, and sometimes sparsely hairy. The bracts, or glumes, at the base of the spikelets are small, oblong-lanceolate, and grayish blue. The summer blooming period lasts about 2 weeks for a colony of plants. After blooming, the entire inflorescence becomes tan as the grains become mature.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaf blades are up to 4 inches long and about 1/8 of an inch across, rather stiff, and dull green or grayish blue. They are usually hairless, but may have sparse grey or white hairs. The blade is flat or slightly twisted and the blade tips are hull-shaped. The leaf sheaths are shorter than the internodes (the length between adjacent nodes on the stem). The nodes are light to medium green and slightly swollen.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems can be solitary or tufted with 4 to 6 alternate leaves along each fertile stem. The stems are green or grayish blue, hairless, flat, and unbranched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
