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Wood Bluegrass

Wood Bluegrass

Poa nemoralis

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How common: Common

Wood Bluegrass is a slender, shade-tolerant grass that grows in loose tufts. It is most often seen in woodland edges, shady parks, rocky slopes and along banks. Its flower head is a narrow, open spray that can look green or brownish‑purple.

Did you know?

  • Tolerates shade better than many grasses and is used in shady lawns.
  • The stem joints are darker than the rest of the stem, a handy clue.

About the species

Identification

Tufted grass 30–80 cm tall. Stems upright and smooth, with darker joints; no creeping runners. Leaves narrow (1–3 mm), folded into a shallow groove with a boat-shaped tip; the top stem leaf often sticks out sideways or a little upward. Flower head a 5–10 cm, fairly narrow, open spray with very fine, slightly rough branches; tiny flat clusters are green to brownish‑purple and lack bristles. Produces small grains. Can resemble other bluegrasses (Poa glauca, Poa palustris); telling them apart can be difficult. Flowers in Finland in June–July.

Plant group

Grasses, sedges and rushes

Habitat

herb-rich forest

Flowering

Jun–Jul

About the habitat

Prefers fairly dry but fertile woodland and similar semi-shaded places. Found on rocky slopes, embankments and banks, in parks, and along field edges. It tolerates shade well. Common throughout the country.

Sources

Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poa nemoralis kz07.jpg

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Tunturit: tunturikoivikot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40474

Text: Pinkka: BIO-503 Suomen kasvisto ja kasvillisuus - Itämeri: rannikon lehdot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.40474

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lehtonurmikka

See also