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Poa secunda
Poa secunda J. Presl
Sandberg Bluegrass, Curly Blue Grass, Pine Blue Grass, Canby Blue Grass
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s): Festuca oregona, Poa ampla, Poa brachyglossa, Poa buckleyana, Poa canbyi, Poa confusa, Poa englishii, Poa gracillima, Poa gracillima var. multnomae, Poa incurva, Poa juncifolia, Poa juncifolia ssp. porteri, Poa juncifolia var. ampla, Poa juncifolia var. juncifolia, Poa laevigata, Poa nevadensis, Poa nevadensis var. juncifolia, Poa orcuttiana, Poa sandbergii, Poa scabrella, Poa secunda ssp. juncifolia, Poa secunda ssp. secunda, Poa secunda var. elongata, Poa secunda var. incurva, Poa secunda var. stenophylla, Poa stenantha var. sandbergii
USDA Symbol: POSE
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
A highly variable, medium-sized bunchgrass with soft, pale- to dark-green leaves and flowering culms to 4 ft. tall; spikelets may be purplish on "good" forms. Bunches are usually 6 in. across. In dry conditions, leaves wither and go dormant.
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AK , AZ , CA , CO , ID , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , UT , WA , WYCanada: AB , BC , NT , ON , QC , SK , YT
Native Distribution: Cismontane CA to UT, n. to WA & w. MT
Native Habitat: Open or partly shaded valleys, hillsides or deserts to 5000 ft.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Variable.
Conditions Comments: This species is similar to, & possibly not separate from, Poa canbyi. P. canbyi ranges from Yukon, s. to most of CA, e. to Alt., Isle Royale, MI, WY & CO.
Propagation
Description: Sow seed.Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU | FACU |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Poa secunda in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Poa secunda in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Poa secunda
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-26Research By: TWC Staff