Canary Grass

Phalaris canariensis

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

Habitat: Wetlands and marshes

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.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderPoalesFamilyPoaceaeGenusPhalaris

Canary Grass

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

Canary Grass can produce abundant, nutritious seeds that feed many birds and animals, ensuring its next generation.

Canary Grass has light, airborne pollen that helps it spread far and wide by wind, colonizing new areas.

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

Passer domesticus

Wild sparrows love to eat its abundant seeds.

eaten by

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

Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

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.