| Author | L. | |
| Distribution | Mostly the Mountains and Piedmont; also the northern half of the Coastal Plain.
Native of Europe and western Asia; in N.A. common from mid-Canada south, but absent from TX and the Gulf Coastal Plain. | |
| Abundance | Frequent to common in the Mountains, uncommon to frequent in the Piedmont, uncommon in northern Coastal Plain. | |
| Habitat | Fields, roadsides, disturbed areas; also some natural or semi-natural habitats in the Mountains. | |
| Phenology | Flowering and fruiting April-August. | |
| Identification | Canada Bluegrass grows 8 inches to 2 feet tall and has a relatively compact and elongate inflorescence. It is strongly rhizomatous. The stems are strongly compressed. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | The genus Poa contains some 500 species globally, about 70 in N.A. A typical Poa species has a number of basal leaves, few stem leaves, and a terminal, open inflorescence. The inflorescence is composed of well-spaced whorls of 2-6 skinny branches, usually with short side branchlets and these bearing spikelets. Branches may be strongly ascending, horizontal, or reflexed. Spikelets are composed of 2-6 florets and are generally laterally compressed. Each glume and lemma is acute to blunt, but seldom acuminate as in many Festuca species. Unlike Festuca and Bromus, most Poa species have a small wispy tuft of white hairs at the base of each floret. | |
| Other Common Name(s) | | |
| State Rank | SE | |
| Global Rank | GNR | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | FACU link |
| USACE-emp | FACU link |
