# Annual Meadow-grass (*Poa annua*)

Annual Meadow-grass is a soft green plant that grows in many places. It loves to spread out in gardens and parks, making the ground look nice and green.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![Annual Meadow-grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Poa_annua.jpeg&width=800)

Photo: Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 10:06, 7 May 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poa_annua.jpeg)

## Appearance

The Annual Meadow-grass has bright green, boat-shaped leaves that often have a crinkled appearance. It produces small, airy clusters of greenish-white flowers (spikelets) on delicate stems, sometimes with a reddish tinge at the base.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Poa

## Interesting facts

- Annual Meadow-grass can grow underground roots up to a foot deep!
- It can produce thousands of seeds from just one tiny plant!
- Its leaves are often called "boat-shaped" because of their folded tips.
- You can find this grass growing on every continent, even Antarctica!

## Special abilities

- **Quick Sprout Master:** Annual Meadow-grass can sprout and flower incredibly fast, allowing it to complete its life cycle even in short growing windows.
- **Mower Marvel:** This grass has a special ability to flower and produce seeds even when cut very short, helping it survive constant mowing.
- **Anywhere Adaptor:** Annual Meadow-grass can self-pollinate, meaning it doesn't need external help to make seeds and can reproduce in isolation.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-30 cm
- **Spread:** 10-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Year-round
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — A primary food source for grazing animals.
- **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Tiny seeds provide food for many small birds.
- **Eaten by:** [Meadow Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-grasshopper) (*Chorthippus parallelus*) — Grazing insects feed on its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths when walking in grassy areas to avoid hidden bumps.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Annual Meadow-grass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Annual Meadow-grass?

5-30 cm

### How wide does Annual Meadow-grass spread?

10-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on Annual Meadow-grass?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Annual Meadow-grass bloom?

Year-round

### Is Annual Meadow-grass edible?

Yes

### Is Annual Meadow-grass toxic?

None

### What is Annual Meadow-grass's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Golden Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/golden-hill) — California, US · Neighborhood

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Annual Meadow-grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annual-meadow-grass)