Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Poa secunda (variously known by the common names of Sandberg bluegrass, alkali bluegrass, big bluegrass, Canby's bluegrass, Nevada bluegrass, one-sided bluegrass, Pacific bluegrass, pine blugrass, slender bluegrass, wild bluegrass, and curly bluegrass. ) is a widespread species of grass native to North and South America. It is highly resistant to drought conditions, and provides excellent fodder; and has also been used in controlling soil erosion, and as revegetator, often after forest fires. Cultivars include 'Canbar', 'Service', 'Sherman', and 'Supernova'. Historically, indigenous Americans, such as the Gosiute of Utah, have used P. secunda for food. It was originally described botanically in 1830 by Jan Svatopluk Presl, from a holotype collected from Chile by Thaddäus Haenke in 1790.

Plant type

Grass

Size

1 - 3 ft Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Fast

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Color

Brown, Cream, Green, Lavender, White

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Water

Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 20 likely

Confirmed Likely

Common Roadside-Skipper

Amblyscirtes vialis

Green Cutworm Moth

Anicla infecta

Glassy Borer

Apamea devastator

Snowy-veined Apamea Moth

Apamea niveivenosa