Poa annua
Annual Meadow Grass
an annual member of the Poa genus in the family Gramineae.
Taxonomy and growth
Environment
- Range
- Cosmopolitan, throughout the whole world, including Britain, but only on mountains in the tropics.
- Habitat
- Waste places, cultivated land, grassland etc[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - there should be no problem with having to sow this plant since it does the job very effectively without our help.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in any well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position[1]. Tolerates very acid soils[1]. This plant is a very common garden weed and will not usually require cultivation. An important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterfly[3]. It is often found growing in close cut lawns[1]. The seed drops very readily from the plant so it is difficult to harvest[1]. This also means that the seed is spread very easily, making the plant even more difficult to eradicate[K].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x