# Canary Grass (*Phalaris canariensis*)

Canary Grass is a tall grass that grows in wetlands. It has fluffy flower heads that look like little feathers!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands and marshes
- **Also known as:** Phalaris

![Canary Grass](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426408/objects/5062.jpg)

## Appearance

The Canary Grass has slender, upright stems and flat, pale green leaves. Its most distinctive feature is a dense, egg-shaped to cylindrical flower head that changes from green to a shiny golden-brown as seeds ripen.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people once ground Canary Grass seeds to make flour for bread!
- Its tiny seeds are a favorite super-snack for pet canaries and other small birds!
- Some varieties are grown to help stop soil from washing away in heavy rain.
- The plant's scientific name, Phalaris, means "shining" in ancient Greek!

## Special abilities

- **Seed Power:** Canary Grass can produce abundant, nutritious seeds that feed many birds and animals, ensuring its next generation.
- **Wind Whisperer:** Canary Grass has light, airborne pollen that helps it spread far and wide by wind, colonizing new areas.
- **Soil Shield:** Canary Grass can grow dense root systems that help prevent soil erosion during heavy rains, protecting the ground.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [house sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Wild sparrows love to eat its abundant seeds.
- **Eaten by:** [house mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — Mice consume its nutritious seeds and foliage.
- **Parasitizes:** crown rust fungus (*Puccinia coronata*) — This fungus causes rust disease on its leaves.

## Traits

- [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.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [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.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Canary 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 Canary Grass?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Canary Grass spread?

15-30 cm

### When does Canary Grass bloom?

Summer

### Is Canary Grass edible?

Yes

### Is Canary Grass toxic?

None

### What is Canary Grass's lifecycle?

Annual

### How is Canary Grass pollinated?

Wind

## 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: [Canary Grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canary-grass)