Overview
Poa trivialis is a perennial grass growing 12-39 inches (30-100 cm) tall, spreading by above-ground runners that root at the nodes to form loose, patchy turf. The flat leaf blades are 0.08-0.2 inch (2-5 mm) wide, soft green, and taper to a pointed tip; the leaf sheaths are rough to the touch, and the membranous ligule at the leaf base is long and pointed. Flowering stems carry open, pyramidal panicles 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) long from late spring, branching in whorls and bearing small green to purplish spikelets. The panicles ripen to straw-brown through summer. The plant roots shallowly and tolerates damp, compacted ground, but browns and thins in summer drought. It stays green through mild winters and resumes growth early in spring. It spreads readily by runners and seed, forming patches in lawns, meadows, and damp grassland.
Native Range
Native to Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, and widely naturalised in North America, Australia, and other temperate regions. Grows in damp meadows, ditches, woodland rides, and disturbed ground on moist, fertile soils, and is a common component of lawns and pastures.Suggested Uses
Grown as a component of pasture and amenity grass mixes for damp, fertile sites and as forage in moist meadows. Its shade and moisture tolerance suit it to ground where drier grasses thin out. In closely managed lawns it is often treated as a weed grass because of its paler, coarser patches.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'3"
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
green to purplishFoliage Description
soft greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight