How to identify Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa)

Photo By Petr Filippov , used under CC-BY-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

How to identify Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa)

Canada bluegrass, also known as Canadian bluegrass

Canada bluegrass typically features a blue-green coloration and has a flattened, wiry stem structure. This grass generally grows in tufts reaching heights of approximate 1-2 feet (30-60 cm), with narrow leaves that are about 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long. The leaves exhibit a boat-shaped tip, which is a characteristic detail. During its blooming season, canada bluegrass produces a slender, branched flowering head that extends above the foliage, creating a delicate and airy appearance.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Grass

Leaf Type: Semi-evergreen

Quickly Identify Canada bluegrass

Flattened, wiry stem structure distinguishes it with a blue-green coloration.

Leaves with boat-shaped tips, narrow, and 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long.

Forms tufts reaching 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) in height.

Produces slender, branched flowering head extending beyond foliage.

Delicate and airy appearance during blooming season.

Canada bluegrass and Their Similar Plants

Kentucky bluegrass vs. Canada bluegrass: What's The Difference?

Kentucky bluegrass is one of the most commonly planted grasses for lawns in cool and humid parts of the United States. The name refers not to the color of the grass stalks, but instead is due to the purple-blue flowers that are seen if the grass is allowed to bloom. A good spot to see kentucky bluegrass is at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, home of the Green Bay Packers football team.

Annual bluegrass vs. Canada bluegrass: What's The Difference?

Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is a low-growing grass native to Europe and Asia. Poa annua is known commonly as both annual bluegrass and poa. The Latin name is derived from the Greek word poa, which is a type of fodder grass.

Rough bluegrass vs. Canada bluegrass: What's The Difference?

Rough bluegrass is a perennial grass that prefers cool, wet habitats and is often found in floodplains, forests, meadows, fields, and shores of rivers and lakes. It has flowers that bloom in late winter and early spring. Rough bluegrass is often confused with Kentucky bluegrass but has much rougher sheaths (hence the common name).

Silver tussock vs. Canada bluegrass: What's The Difference?

Silver tussock is worth considering if you're looking for a species of graceful, tall grass with attractive leaves. It makes an excellent ground cover, especially in coastal areas, due to its wind tolerance. Its species name, "cita," comes from the Latin verb meaning “to put into motion,” alluding to how the blades move when the wind blows.

Texas bluegrass vs. Canada bluegrass: What's The Difference?

Poa arachnifera, the Texas bluegrass, is a species of grass.

Identify Canada bluegrass easily and quickly

We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.

Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Canada bluegrass

Attributes of Canada bluegrass

Lifespan

Perennial

Flower Size

5 mm to 1 cm

Flower Color

White

Yellow

Green

Brown

Leaf type

Semi-evergreen

Identify plants with a snap

Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.

Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Canada bluegrass

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Monocotyledons

Order

Grasses, sedges and allies

Family

Grass

Genus

Meadow-grasses

Species

Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa)

Learn More About the Canada bluegrass

Distribution Map of Canada bluegrass

Canada bluegrass is a plant species native to temperate and cooler regions across the Northern Hemisphere. It thrives naturally across major areas of Europe, parts of Asia including the Middle East, and several regions in North America. Its range extends to a variety of climates from Mediterranean to boreal zones. Additionally, canada bluegrass has been introduced to areas in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as other non-native regions, adapting to locales such as South America, the Caribbean, and New Zealand.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Canada bluegrass

A Comprehensive Guide to Canada bluegrass How to Grow and Care for Canada bluegrass