Poa secunda aka Sandberg Bluegrass

It is extremely drought-tolerant, adapts to a wide range of soil types and pH levels, tolerates grazing and trampling, and readily establishes from direct seeding. As a pioneer species, it is one of the first grasses to colonize disturbed ground, requiring little to no supplemental care once established.

Poa secunda is highly drought-tolerant and thrives with minimal supplemental watering. In its native range, it survives on as little as 6 inches (150 mm) of annual precipitation. Its deep, coarse fibrous roots extract moisture efficiently, and the plant naturally goes dormant in early summer when surface soil dries out. Once established, it generally does not require irrigation and will re-green on its own with autumn rains.

Poa secunda is remarkably adaptable to soil conditions, growing well across a very wide variety of types including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It is most commonly found on well-drained, medium-textured silt loams and sandy soils, but also thrives on badlands, ridge tops, rocky ground, and alkaline or saline flats. It tolerates mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH. Good drainage is preferred, but the species is not particular about soil fertility.

Poa secunda requires full sun and cannot grow in shade. It is a grass of open rangeland, sagebrush steppe, grasslands, and exposed ridgetops. While it shows moderate shade tolerance in lightly wooded areas like open ponderosa pine forests, it performs best and is most productive in full, unobstructed sunlight.

Poa secunda has no known toxicity to humans or animals. PFAF lists no known hazards for this species. It is widely used as livestock forage for cattle, sheep, and horses, and its seeds were historically consumed by indigenous peoples such as the Gosiute of Utah. It is safe around pets and children.

Poa secunda is primarily propagated by seed. Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment, typically emerging in 5–10 days, though a 30-day cold-moist stratification can improve germination rates. Sow seeds shallowly in fall to early spring into a firm, weed-free seedbed. Optimal germination temperatures fluctuate between 12°C and 17°C. Division of cultivated plants is possible but not always effective. The species also reproduces naturally by apomixis (producing viable seed without pollination).

Poa secunda is a perennial bunchgrass that forms small to medium tufts without rhizomes. Typical plants of subspecies secunda reach 20–60 cm (8–24 inches) tall, while the more robust subspecies juncifolia can reach 120 cm (4 feet). Individual clumps spread up to about 30 cm (1 foot) in diameter. It has a moderate growth rate, greening up very early in spring and maturing by early summer before entering summer dormancy.

Poa secunda is exclusively an outdoor plant, hardy in USDA zones 3–9. It thrives across a vast range of climates and elevations, from 300 to 12,000 feet. It is native throughout western North America, from Alaska and Yukon south through the western United States to Mexico, with disjunct populations in Quebec and South America. It is ideal for native grassland restoration, erosion control, and low-water landscaping in its native range.

Poa secunda is native to western North and South America. Its primary range spans from Alaska and Yukon across southern Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and disjunctly in Quebec) throughout the western United States, extending into Mexico. A disjunct population exists in Patagonia, Chile — where the species was first described in 1830. It is the most common bluegrass in the Intermountain West, dominant in sagebrush steppe, open dry grasslands, and montane habitats.

Poa secunda flowers in spring, typically April through June, producing narrow panicle inflorescences up to 24 cm long with ascending branches. The flower clusters begin as pale green or deep purple and transition to shimmering straw-gold as seeds ripen. Like all grasses, the flowers are small and inconspicuous individually but collectively create an attractive display. Seeds mature by early summer and should be collected when the inflorescence begins to dry.

Poa secunda is wind-pollinated, as is typical for grasses. However, it also reproduces extensively by facultative apomixis — producing viable seeds without pollination. This asexual seed production is the predominant reproductive mode, though the species outcrosses often enough to generate considerable genetic and morphological variation. This combination of reproduction strategies contributes to its taxonomic complexity and ecological adaptability.

Poa secunda has a distinctive growth cycle that shapes its care. It is among the first grasses to green up in early spring, grows actively through spring, then goes completely dormant by early summer as soil moisture depletes. It remains dormant through the hot summer months, requiring no water or attention. With autumn rains, it re-greens and resumes active leaf growth through late fall and even into early winter, providing valuable late-season greenery when other grasses are at their lowest.

Several cultivars have been developed for conservation and rangeland use. 'Canbar' is adapted to dry, shallow, rocky soils in sagebrush and ponderosa pine zones with 9–15 inches precipitation. 'Sherman' is a Canby bluegrass type suited to moister sites with vigorous spring growth. 'High Plains' is a selected-class germplasm from Wyoming for native conservation mixtures and reclamation. 'Mountain Home' is another Sandberg bluegrass release. 'Supernova' is a newer cultivar. Two subspecies are recognized: subsp. secunda (shorter, drier-site plants) and subsp. juncifolia (taller, moister-habitat plants).

Poa secunda is generally resistant to pests and diseases. Its summer dormancy habit helps it avoid many problems that affect actively growing grasses during hot months. The species is well-adapted to grazing pressure and actually increases in dominance on overgrazed sites. No significant pest or disease issues are commonly reported in the literature. Its primary ecological challenge is competition from invasive annual grasses, particularly cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), during the seedling establishment phase.

The seeds of Poa secunda are edible but very small and difficult to harvest in useful quantities. Indigenous peoples such as the Gosiute of Utah historically used the seeds as food. PFAF rates edibility at 1 out of 5, reflecting the impracticality of the tiny seeds. The plant is more valuable as livestock forage — it provides good-quality spring grazing for cattle and fair forage for sheep, deer, pronghorn, and elk, with crude protein reaching 16% in fall regrowth.

Poa secunda is widely used in conservation and land management. It is a primary species for rangeland restoration, erosion control, and revegetation after wildfires. It effectively fills interspaces between larger bunchgrasses and impedes the spread of invasive cheatgrass. The USDA NRCS recommends it in native seed mixtures for early-season competition against annual weeds. It is also valued for wildlife habitat, providing food and cover for birds, small mammals, deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and elk.

Poa secunda is extremely cold-hardy, surviving in USDA zones as low as 3 (winter temperatures to -40°F/-40°C). Its roots are most active in the cool temperature range of 42–59°F (5.5–15°C). The species avoids heat stress through summer dormancy — it naturally ceases growth and goes dormant when temperatures rise and soil moisture drops in early summer, then resumes growth in cool autumn conditions. This strategy makes it well-adapted to continental climates with harsh winters and hot, dry summers.