Photo of Poa secunda flower by The Watershed Nursery

Photo by The Watershed Nursery

Used with permission, all rights reserved

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Poa secunda

Also Known As

  • Alkali Bluegrass
  • Big Bluegrass
  • Canby's Bluegrass
  • One-sided Bluegrass
  • Pacific Bluegrass
  • Sandberg Bluegrass
  • Slender Bluegrass
  • Wild Bluegrass

Plant type

grass / grass like

size

  • H: 12"-40"
  • W: 8"-18"

planting zones

  • 3a-10b

More Options

Poa secunda plant details

Poa secunda is a semi-evergreen grass (or grassy in appearance) with green foliage. In summer white flowers emerge. Attracts bees, birds and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average, clay, gritty and rocky soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Poa secunda

Plant type: grass (or grassy in appearance)
Plant family: poaceae
Foliage: semi-evergreen green
Mature size: 8 IN - 18 IN - wide, 12 IN - 40 IN - tall
Flowers: white blooms in summer

GROWING CONDITIONS for Poa secunda

USDA Zones: 3a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: low
Resistant to: verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, clay, gritty and rocky

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Poa secunda, has a moderate growth rate beginning in early spring up to about 1.5-3 ft. It looks particularly beautiful, leaves and stems having a blueish cast and lemma tips that are typically purplish. At full flowering, white stamens dangle from their florets in the breeze. Leaves are not abundant and die back soon after flowering. An excellent choice due to its extreme drought tolerance and remarkable ability to produce a strong fibrous root system that suppresses weed growth. Native to California and is also found elsewhere in North America and beyond. It is drought tolerant and persists, regardless of annual weather patterns. One of the first grasses to mature, it provides an early source of protein for grazing animals. Seeds used for food. Found in grasslands and disturbed places. Communities located in Saline and alkaline meadows, chaparral, foothill woodland, grasslands, sagebrush scrub, dry meadows, and sub-alpine Between 0 and 12500.

Gardening facts about Poa secunda plant

How to Grow Poa secunda

  • Sun Exposure

    • sun - mostly sun
  • Water Needs

    • low - drought tolerant
  • Soil Needs

    • clay
    • average
    • rocky
    • gritty
  • Special Situation

    • verticillium wilt resistant

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Flower Color

    • white
  • Wildlife

    • birds
    • bees
    • butterflies
  • Flower Season

    • summer
  • Foliage Season

    • semi-evergreen

Landscape groups by tags

See other plant types of Poa for your garden

aka Blue Tussock Grass

Plant Type

Perennial, Grass / Grass Like

Zones

8a-11

Size

Height: 30"

Width: 20"

  • sun
  • occasional
Photo of Poa poiformis [East coast] by Zephs
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aka Blue Tussock Grass, Coast Tussock Grass

Plant Type

Perennial, Grass / Grass Like

Zones

8a-11

Size

Height: 30"

Width: 20"

  • sun
  • occasional
Photo of Poa poiformis [West coast] by Zephs
View Plant

More Options

aka Silver Tussock-grass

Plant Type

Grass / Grass Like

Zones

8a-10b

Size

Height: 30"

Width: 2'

  • sun
  • regular - drought tolerant
Photo of Poa cita foliage by plant lust
View Plant

More Options

+4 more Poa
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