Poa hiemata

Soft Snow-grass

Tufted perennial or with short underground stems. Flowering stems erect.

FamilyPoaceae
StoreyLower storey
Sizeto 25 cm high; stems to 60 cm high
Plant groupingGrasses, Rushes & Sedges
LeavesSoft smooth bright green leaves to 0.5 mm wide, inrolled to rounded. Sheath pale.
Flower colourGreen or purplish
Flowering timeDecember to February
FlowersTight or spreading branches in flowerhead, to 12 cm x 8 cm, 3-5-flowered spikelets, lower bracts 3-veined, lower floral bract 5-veined, downy on lower half, few or no webby basal hairs.
Bird attractingSeeds, habitat - nesting materials
Butterfly attractingFood plant for caterpillars
Frog habitatNo
Growing conditionsMoist soils in grasslands and wet forest at high altitudes. Snow tolerant, full sun semi shade.
Garden useAttractive soft grass for higher altitude gardens.
Commercially availableUnlikely to be available within the Shire of Yarra Ranges
Conservation statusSignificant within the Shire. Known from very few local sites. Also occurs in a few scattered sites in the eastern highlands.