Poa douglasii
Sand dune blue grass, Sand Dune Blue Grass
(c) LJ Moore-McClelland, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Poa douglasii (Sand dune blue grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by distinctive dune habitat and densely scabrous to hairy peduncle/branches.
Sand dune blue grass is a California native perennial found in southern North Coast, Central Coast, and northern Channel Islands in coastal dune habitats at elevations generally below 100 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces delicate grass-like flowers in narrow, dense clusters 2 to 6 centimeters long. Growing with tufted stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it spreads through long rhizomes or stolons and forms distinctive clumps. Its narrow leaves are 1 to 2.5 millimeters wide, firm and slender, typically folded or tightly rolled with a fine, hairy upper surface. The plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants, and features a small ligule 1 to 2 millimeters long that is finely rough-textured.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 28 sympatric species; distinctive dune habitat and densely scabrous to hairy peduncle/branches
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal dunes
Elevation: generally < 100 m
Bloom period
Poa douglasii blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Festuca: Poa has boat-shaped, keeled leaf tips; Festuca leaves are flat or rolled but never keeled like a ship's prow.; vs Melica: Poa has fine, narrow leaves with boat-shaped tips; Melica has wider, flat leaves without the distinctive keel.; vs Nassella: Poa leaves have boat-shaped tips you can feel; Nassella leaves roll inward and lack the keel.; vs Koeleria: Poa has cobwebby hairs at seed base and keeled leaf tips; Koeleria lacks both features.; vs Holcus: Poa has boat-shaped leaf tips; Holcus leaves are flat and soft-hairy without any keel.
Frequently asked questions
Is Poa douglasii native to California?
Yes. Poa douglasii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Poa douglasii bloom?
Poa douglasii blooms Mar-Jul.
What plant family does Poa douglasii belong to?
Poa douglasii is in the Poaceae family, genus Poa.
What habitat does Poa douglasii grow in?
Poa douglasii grows in Coastal dunes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.