Annual Bluegrass
Poa annua · Cool-season, annual, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Pooideae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (no specific named cultivars for common weed form)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2-10
About This Grass
Forms light green patches, highly prolific seed head producer, grows 1 to 12 inches tall, bright yellow-green color standing out against darker turf
Blade Characteristics
Medium width, folded in bud, boat-shaped tip, light green color, membranous ligule, no auricles
Root System
Shallow fibrous root system, rapid establishment from seed, poor drought tolerance, forms little permanent turf
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe, now distributed worldwide in temperate and cool regions
Growth Habit
Bunch-type to weakly spreading, forms light green patches
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade, high moisture requirements, poor drought tolerance, prefers compacted or wet soils
Mowing & Maintenance
Can survive very low mowing, high maintenance weed in turf, aggressive seed production even when mown low
Special Characteristics
Low wear tolerance, susceptible to various summer diseases, excellent adaptability to compacted and wet soils
Ecological Information
Introduced weed species, opportunistic colonizer of bare patches and disturbed soils