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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Achene
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
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.