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SANDBERG 

BLUEGRASS

Poa secunda Presl 

Plant Symbol = POSE

including: 

P. ampla Merr. (POAM) 

P. canbyi (Scribn.) Howell (POCA) 

P. gracillima Vasey (POGR) 

P. juncifolia Scribn. (POJU) 

P. nevadensis Vasey (PONE3) 

P. sandbergii Vasey (POSA12) 

P. scabrella (Thurb.) Benth (POSC)

Contributed by: USDA NRCS, Boise, Idaho 

 Mark Majerus, Montana Plant Materials Center, Bridger, Montana 

Alternate Names 

P. ampla = Big bluegrass 

P. canbyi = Canby’s bluegrass 

P. gracillima = Pacific or Slender bluegrass 

P. juncifolia = Alkali bluegrass 

P. nevadensis = Nevada bluegrass 

P. sandbergii = Sandberg bluegrass 

P. scabrella = Pine bluegrass 

Description 

General: The Sandberg bluegrass complex is 

composed of cool-season (with some summer active 

ecotypes) perennial bunch grasses. Most accessions 

mature early in the growing season. This grass is one 

of the first to green up in the spring, but is commonly 

cured and dormant by early summer. The plant 

usually occurs as small tufts, with soft basal leaves 

and few to many flowering stalks that are naked 

except for one or two small leaves. The leaves have 

the typical bluegrass characteristics of prow-shaped 

tip and double groove down the center of the upper 

leaf surface. Sandberg bluegrass has a prominent 

membranaceous, acute ligule. The seeds are glabrous 

except for short crisp hairs on the lower portion of 

the lemmas. The flowers are in narrow panicles that 

are somewhat spreading during anthesis. Plants 

seldom exceed 60 cm (24 in) in height. Plants of the 

Sandberg bluegrass complex have extensive, deep 

penetrating, coarse, fibrous roots that make them 

quite drought tolerant and resistant to grazing and 

trampling. Species within the complex have 

approximately 2,000,000 seeds per kilogram 

(925,000 seeds per pound). 

Distribution: Plants occur throughout Western North 

America with disjunct populations in Quebec and 

Chile. For current distribution, consult the Plant 

Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web 

site. 

Taxonomy 

The type specimen for Poa secunda was collected 

between 1790 and 1794 in “cordilleras Chilensibus” 

by Thaddeus Haenke and was described by Presl in 

1830. In 1892, Sandberg collected a plant near 

Lewiston, Idaho which was described the following 

year by Vasey as Poa sandbergii. Presl’s work is 

recognized as having taxonomic priority due to its 

earlier date (Arnow 1981). 

The Sandberg bluegrass complex has included up to 

45 named species including eight species recognized 

by Hitchcock (1935): Canby’s bluegrass (P. canbyi), 

big bluegrass (P. ampla), little mountain bluegrass 

(P. curtifolia), Pacific bluegrass (P. gracillima), 

alkali bluegrass (P. juncifolia), Nevada bluegrass (P. 

nevadensis), Pine bluegrass (P. scabrella) and the 

traditional Sandberg bluegrass (P. sandbergii) 

(Arnow 1981). Kellogg (1985a, 1985b) however, 

demonstrated that for all species except P. curtifolia, 

the characters used to separate the species were 
unreliable. Many were often environmentally 

determined, for example plants turning red when dry, 

leaf rolling and leaf glaucusness. Research has shown 

that under garden and greenhouse conditions these 

characters don’t exhibit themselves as they do under 

field conditions (Kellogg 1985b). Other characters 

vary so widely within a population that they are not 

reliable to delineate groups within the complex. 

Based on these findings, Kellogg (1985a) 

synonomized the entire complex with the exception 

of P. curtifolia, a well-defined species endemic to 

serpentine outcrops in the Wenatchee Mountains in 

Kittitas and Chelan Counties, Washington (Hitchcock 

and others 1971). 

Variation in Sandberg bluegrass releases; left to right: ‘Sherman’ 

big bluegrass, High Plains and Mountain Home Sandberg 

bluegrass. 

Derek J. Tilley, USDA NRCS Idaho PMC, Aberdeen, Idaho

Although evidence currently points to a large, highly 

variable suite of forms making up the Sandberg 

bluegrass complex, the authors of this paper believe 

that unique phenotypes exist and the separation of 

these forms is still useful in describing ecological 

sites, predicting revegetation performance and in 

making land management decisions. In this light, the 

authors have decided to provide descriptions here of 

the seven separate forms of Sandberg bluegrass 

recognized by Hitchcock (1935), minus P. curtifolia, 

as an aid to land managers. 

The following taxonomic key taken from Cronquist 

and others (1977) should be useful in separating the 

seven species of the Sandberg bluegrass complex. 

1. Lemmas crisp puberulent to nearly glabrous, the 

 pubescence sometimes confined to the very base. 

 2. Panicles open, the lower branches nearly at 

 right angles to the axis; culms often decumbent 

 at the base; plants summer flowering 

 ..........................................P. gracillima 

 2. Panicles contracted or somewhat open; culms 

 usually erect. 

 3. Plants relatively small, culms mostly less 

 than 30 cm tall; basal leaves forming a short 

 dense tuft, 3-10 cm high; panicles 2-7 cm 

 long; mostly spring flowering...P. sandbergii 

 3. Plants larger, mostly more than 30 cm 

 tall; basal leaves looser, the tuft 5-30 cm 

 high; panicles 6-16 cm long; mostly summer 

 flowering 

 4. Basal tuft of leaves 3-15 cm high; 

 panicles 4-12 cm long...........P. scabrella

 4. Basal tuft of leaves 15-30 cm high; 

 panicles 9-16 cm long.............P. canbyi

1. Lemmas usually glabrous, sometimes minutely 

 scaberulous 

 5. Ligules decurrent, long, 1.5-6.5 mm long, 

 acuminate or sharply acute.......P. nevadensis

 5. Ligules not obviously decurrent, short, 1-2 mm 

 long, rounded or obtuse to truncate. 

 6. Blades involute, mostly less than 1.5 mm 

 broad, greenish; plants 20-70 cm tall; 

 usually growing in alkaline soils 

 ...................................................P. juncifolia

 6. Blades mostly flat, 1.5-3.5 mm broad, often 

 glaucous; plants robust, 60-180 cm tall; 

 growing in non-alkaline soils.........P. ampla 

‘Sherman’ big bluegrass. USDA NRCS. 

Big bluegrass (Poa ampla) 

This is the most robust species within the Sandberg 

bluegrass complex. Culms reach 60 to 130 cm (24 to 

48 in) tall, with basal leaves growing to 40 cm (16 in) 

long and 1.5 to 3.5 mm (1/16 to 1/8 in) wide. The 

leaves are typically bluish-green and somewhat 

glaucus. Panicles range from 10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 in) 

long and are narrow with densely arranged spikelets. 

This species occupies sagebrush slopes, midelevation meadows and openings in aspen stands. Big 
bluegrass is notable for early green-up, greater forage 

production and its importance to range management. 

Canby’s bluegrass (Poa canbyi) 

Canby’s bluegrass bears green to glaucus leaves with 

culms to 80 cm (31 in) tall. The basal leaves are 

typically 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) long and 1 to 3 mm 

(1/16 to 3/32 in) wide. The panicles are loose to 

compact with erect branches growing to a length of 

16 cm (6 1⁄4 in). Plants of Canby’s bluegrass grow on 

open grassy or sagebrush slopes at middle elevations. 

In its native habitat this species actively grows during 

the late spring and matures by early July as opposed 

to P. sandbergii (Cronquist and others 1977) 

Pacific or Slender bluegrass (Poa gracillima) 

This is another summer active species. Culms range 

from 20 to 50 cm (8 to 20 in) tall. Leaf blades are flat 

and lax from 5 to 15 cm (2 to 5 in) long and 0.7 to 2 

mm (1/32 to 1/16 in) wide. The panicles are open and 

pyramidal. Lemmas of Pacific bluegrass have longer 

hairs on the keel than P. sandbergii. This species can 

be found in meadows, stream banks and rocky slopes 

from British Columbia to the California Sierras, with 

populations also found in northern Nevada, northern 

Utah and Colorado. 

Nevada bluegrass (Poa nevadensis) 

This is the most robust species within the Sandberg 

bluegrass complex next to P. ampla. This species is a 

perennial bunchgrass with culms as much as 100 cm 

(39 in) tall. Basal leaves typically reach a length of 

25 cm (10 in) with a width of 1 to 3 mm (1/16 to 3/32 

in). Nevada bluegrass has distinctive long acuminate 

ligules from 1.5 to as much as 6 mm (1/16 to 1⁄4 in) 

long. The narrow panicles are 10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 in) 

long with yellowish-green to purplish-tinged 

spikelets. Nevada bluegrass can be found in mountain 

foothill to mountain areas in sagebrush communities 

including mountain meadows from Alaska to 

southern California and east to Arizona, Colorado 

and Montana. 

Alkali bluegrass (Poa juncifolia) 

This species is regarded as being closely related to P. 

ampla (Cronquist and others 1977) and it has been 

shown that when grown under garden conditions the 

differences between the two species are lost 

(Hitchcock and others 1969). Typically the plants are 

smaller with culms growing 30 to 70 cm (12 to 26 in) 

tall. Leaf blades are tightly rolled and less than 2 mm 

(1/16 in) wide. Panicles are narrow, 7 to 15 cm (2 3⁄4 

to 6 in) long with short, ascending branches. This 

species prefers moist or dry alkaline meadows from 

the sagebrush zone to mountain communities from 

British Columbia and south to South Dakota, 

Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah. Populations have also 

been found in New Mexico. 

Sandberg bluegrass (Poa sandbergii) 

This is probably the most common bluegrass species 

in the Intermountain West, at least in the drier 

portions of the region, and is an important species for 

small animals and birds in spring and fall (Cronquist 

and others 1977). It is not considered an important 

forage species for livestock or large wildlife species. 

Plants are relatively small with culms reaching 20 to 

35 cm (8 to 14 in) tall and basal leaves 3 to 5 cm (1 to 

2 in) long. Plants occur in dry areas in sagebrush and 

mountain shrub communities, and occasionally in 

alpine sites. 

Pine bluegrass (Poa scabrella) 

This species can be tentatively separated from 

Canby’s bluegrass by its being a spring flowering 

species as opposed to summer, and from Sandberg 

bluegrass by its smaller size. However; it is 

admittedly very closely related to both and extremely 

difficult to separate when the species are found in 

close proximity to one another. Typically this species 

is found on relatively dry sites on sagebrush hills and 

forest lands at low to mid-elevations from British 

Columbia to Baja California, Nevada Utah and east 

to Colorado and Minnesota. 

Pine bluegrass. http://www.tarleton.edu/~range/Home/home.htm 

Uses 

Sandberg bluegrass species and the other spring 

ecotypes are palatable to livestock early in the 

growing season, becoming less desirable during the 

summer when cured. Summer growing ecotypes are 
palatable longer into the season. By autumn Sandberg 

bluegrass is frequently selected again as an available 

alternative. Deer, pronghorn antelope, and bighorn 

sheep utilize Sandberg bluegrass forage and birds and 

small mammals utilize the seed (Johnson and Larson 

1999). 

Because of the small stature and early maturity, most 

of the species of Sandberg bluegrass do not provide 

much usable forage; however, big bluegrass and 

Nevada bluegrass can be important forage producers 

for larger animals. Sandberg bluegrass is usually a 

minor component of many grassland communities, 

but is still considered one of the six most important 

rangeland grasses of the Intermountain and Pacific 

Northwest regions (USDA Forest Service 1937). 

The anticipated use of commercially available 

Sandberg bluegrass seed is for inclusion in native 

mixtures for wildlife habitat, reclamation of disturbed 

sites, restoration of native rangeland and for 

conservation plantings. 

Status 

Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State 

Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s 

current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, 

state noxious status, and wetland indicator values). 

Adaptation 

Sandberg bluegrass is considered an increaser in mid 

and short-grass prairies, mountain meadows, and 

foothills of south-central Canada and western United 

States (Dakotas west to Washington), south to 

Mexico (Hitchcock 1935) (Hitchcock & Cronquist 

1976). It is found at elevations ranging from 100 to 

3,650 meters (300 to 12,000 ft). It grows well on 

medium texture soils but is also common on 

badlands, ridge tops, and dry, stony, or sandy soils. It 

is a pioneer species, one of the first grasses to 

colonize on disturbed sites. Plants of the Sandberg 

bluegrass complex occupy a niche in bunchgrass 

plant communities. The primary area of use would 

include the northern Great Plains (Montana, 

Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado), 

the Intermountain West including the Great Basin 

(Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah), and the 

Palouse country (Idaho, Oregon, Washington). 

Sandberg bluegrass is considered to be a facultative 

apomyct, reproducing primarily (but not limited to) 

agamospermy, or asexual seed production (Kellogg 

1987). Larson and others (2001) showed that genetic 

diversity within natural populations of Sandberg 

bluegrass was much greater than that in the releases 

Sherman or Canbar. Accordingly, releases, such as 

Reliable Sandberg bluegrass germplasm, have been 

developed from multiple plant populations to ensure 

higher amounts of genetic diversity and greater 

adaptation (Waldron and others 2006). 

Establishment 

For best results, seed should be planted into a firm, 

weed-free seedbed, preferably with a drill that will 

ensure a uniform seed placement of about 6 mm (1/8 

to 1/4 inch). The small seed can be broadcast seeded, 

harrowed, and packed for good seed-soil contact; 

however, in dryland situations good precipitation at 

the time of germination is critical for emergence and 

establishment. The full seeding rate is 1.7 kg/ha PLS 

(2.0 lb/ac PLS), but this species would seldom be 

seeded in a pure stand. This species would normally 

be included in native seed mixtures at a rate of 0.3 to 

0.6 kg/ha PLS (1/4 to 1/2 lb/ac PLS). Seeding in 

early spring is favored in areas that have early 

growing season moisture patterns such as the 

Northern Great Plains, while fall dormant seedings 

are preferred in winter rainfall areas such as the 

Columbia Basin and most of the Intermountain West. 

Sandberg bluegrass is considered a pioneer species 

and is often one of the first grasses to respond to 

surface manipulation of deteriorated rangeland. 

Sandberg bluegrass is a relatively short-lived grass, 

but often perpetuates itself through prolific seed set 

and shatter. 

Management

Sandberg bluegrass will withstand heavy grazing and 

trampling, in part, because of its early maturity and 

apparent dormancy during the summer and fall 

grazing period. When planted in a native reclamation 

mix, it will be a minor component of the establishing 

plant community; therefore management should be 

based on other key species in the mixture. Any new 

planting should be deferred from livestock grazing 

until it is well established which may require 1 to 3 

years (Schwendiman 1971).

Pests and Potential Problems 

Sandberg bluegrass is susceptible to stem and leaf 

rusts which can significantly decrease seed 

production (Mosman 2005). Rust outbreaks can be 

prevented and controlled by applying a 14 oz rate of 

systemic fungicides such as Propiconazole and 

Azoxystrobin (‘Quilt’ tm). Always follow the label in 

any pesticide application. 

Environmental Concerns 

Sandberg bluegrass is a native perennial grass that is 

considered an increaser under heavy grazing 

conditions and is a pioneer (early colonizing species) 

on rangeland disturbances or surface manipulated 
sites. This species is a bunchgrass and seed shatter 

does not travel far from the parent plant. It occupies 

space in bunchgrass plant communities and assists 

with deterring invasive species encroachment due to 

its extensive root system. 

It is recommended in mixtures on sites needing an 

early spring perennial grass to compete against 

annual weeds. Sandberg bluegrass is known to fill in 

interspaces between larger bunchgrasses and 

effectively impedes the spread of cheatgrass (Monsen 

and others 2004). Seed may be consumed by 

songbirds, upland game birds, and small mammals 

and spread through feces. Sandberg bluegrass is not 

aggressive, and therefore is not considered to be 

invasive. 

Seed Production 

Seed should be planted in rows using a drill that will 

ensure a uniform 6 mm (1/4 inch) planting depth. 

Seeding is best in early spring (April 1 to May 15). 

Seed in rows with at least 45-60 cm (18-24 in) 

spacing on irrigated sites and 75-90 cm (30-36 in) on 

dryland sites. 

Seed production should not be attempted on dryland 

sites receiving less than 380 mm (15 inches) of 

annual precipitation. Seed of this species matures 

early, so a long growing season is not necessary. 

However, seed production should not be attempted in 

areas that have a high probability of a killing frost 

past May 15th. Commercial seed production fields of 

Sandberg bluegrass will not produce seed the first 

(establishment) year. Seed production fields should 

be established using a rate of 150 to 250 seeds/linear 

meter of row (50-80 PLS/linear foot). This will 

equate to 0.6 to 1.2 kg/ha (0.5 to 1 lb/ac) of pure live 

seed. Because of the small seed size, seeding rates 

are often in the neighborhood of 2.2 kg/ha (2 lb/ac) 

because of the difficulty in metering such a small 

volume of seed through a drill. 

Seeding in wide-spaced rows facilitates weed control 

and allows for more robust plant development 

resulting in optimum seed production. Close 

cultivation should occur only during the 

establishment year. As the stand matures, cultivation 

should be further away from the row, allowing 

tillering from the edges and preventing damage to 

surface roots. There are several broadleaf herbicides 

that are registered for use in grass seed production 

fields, however, options are limited for chemical 

control of annual grassy weeds. 

The average harvest date in south-central Montana 

ranges from June 24 to August 19; the harvest date 

varying with spring and early summer climatic 

conditions. Good seed production can be expected 

during the second and third years of production with 

seed production dropping off drastically the fourth 

year. Expected seed production is 85-175 kg/ha (75-

150 lbs/ac) on dryland and 110-445 kg/ha (100-400 

lbs/ac) on irrigated sites. Seed ripening is uniform 

enough that seed can be direct combined, but 

swathing and combining from a cured windrow is the 

preferred method of harvest. 

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and 

area of origin) 

Various "ecotypes" should be utilized within a 

reasonable geographic range from the original source, 

since available releases are primarily source 

identified or selected germplasm releases and have 

not been progeny tested to determine their range of 

adaptation and performance. 

Service big bluegrass (Poa ampla) comes from a 

collection made east of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, 

Canada. It is intended for use in reclamation, native 

habitat restoration and erosion control throughout 

most of Alaska (Alderson and Sharp 1994). Breeder 

seed is available through the Alaska Plant Materials 

Center, Palmer, Alaska. 

‘Sherman’ big bluegrass (Poa ampla) was collected 

from a native population near Moro, Sherman 

County, Oregon in 1932 and this cultivar was 

released in 1945 by the Washington, Idaho and 

Oregon Agricultural Experiment Stations and the 

Pullman Washington Plant Materials Center. This is 

a large stature bunchgrass growing to nearly 1 meter 

tall (Alderson and Sharp 1994). It is intended for use 

in range reseeding, cropland retirement plantings, and 

revegetation of disturbed lands in mountain brush 

communities and openings in aspen and conifer 

forests. It is best adapted to areas that receive 10-24 

inches of annual precipitation. Plants of Sherman are 

readily eaten by livestock and large game. 

Foundation seed is available through Washington 

State Crop Improvement Association, and breeder 

seed is maintained by the Pullman, Washington Plant 

Materials Center. 

‘Canbar’ Canby’s bluegrass (Poa canbyi) is a 

cultivar release and was selected from a single 

collection made in the Blue Mountains, Columbia 

County, Washington. It is adapted to sites receiving 

10 to 24 inches annual precipitation and is intended 

for use in basin, Wyoming and mountain big 

sagebrush plant communities in western states. 

Canbar should be used in a mixture on sites needing 

an early spring perennial grass to compete against 
annual weeds. Canbar is known to fill in interspaces 

between larger bunchgrasses and effectively impedes 

the spread of cheatgrass (Monsen and others 2004). 

Foundation seed is available through the Washington 

State Crop Improvement Association. Breeder seed is 

maintained by the Pullman, Washington Plant 

Materials Center. 

Opportunity Selected Germplasm Nevada bluegrass 

(Poa nevadensis) was released in 2008 from the 

Bridger Plant Materials Center. This is the first 

release of the Nevada bluegrass type to the 

commercial seed industry. The Nevada bluegrass 

type is a more robust, taller, significantly more 

productive and later maturing grass than the 

Sandberg bluegrass type. The original collection of 

this seed came from a site near Wisdom Junction 

along Highway 1 east of Anaconda, Montana. This 

site was severely contaminated with heavy metals 

from smelter fallout and other mine tailing sources. 

This release is a late maturing, large stature bluegrass 

with folded leaves similar to big bluegrass and long 

ligules. It is best adapted to 2000 to 6500 feet (610 to 

1980 m), native to drastically disturbed sites in the 10 

to 18 inch mean annual precipitation zones. This 

collection has performed well on sites with low pH 

and contamination by heavy metals. G1 (equivalent 

to Foundation) seed is available to commercial 

growers through the Foundation Seed Program at 

Montana State University and the University of 

Wyoming. The Montana and Wyoming Seed 

Certification Programs will recognize G2 (equivalent 

to Registered) and G3 (equivalent to Certified) classes 

of germplasm.

Seed production field of High Plains Sandberg bluegrass at the 

Bridger, MT PMC. 

Susan Winslow, USDA NRCS Montana PMC, Bridger, Montana 

High Plains Selected Germplasm Sandberg bluegrass 

(Poa sandbergii) was released in 2000 from the 

Bridger Plant Materials Center. This is the first 

release of the Poa sandbergii type to the commercial 

seed industry. This release is a composite of three 

accessions originating from the high plains of 

Wyoming; one each from Natrona (300-350 mm 

precip., elev. 1,590 m), Campbell (250-300 mm 

precip., elev. 1,430 m), and Uinta (175-225 mm 

precip., elev. 1,920 m) counties. G1 (equivalent to 

Foundation) seed is available to commercial growers 

through the Foundation Seed Program at Montana 

State University and the University of Wyoming. 

The Montana and Wyoming Seed Certification 

Programs will recognize G2 (equivalent to 

Registered) and G3 (equivalent to Certified) classes 

of germplasm. 

Mountain Home Germplasm Sandberg bluegrass 

(Poa sandbergii) is test material from the USDA 

Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in 

Boise, ID. Mountain Home Germplasm is not a 

release at this point, but is under commercial 

production and being utilized in seed mixes in the 

Intermountain West. 

Hanford Source Identified Germplasm Sandberg 

bluegrass (Poa sandbergii) is a release from L&H 

Seeds in Connell, Washington. The original material 

was collected from Hanford, Washington from an 

area receiving an average 6 inches of annual 

precipitation. It is adapted to droughty regions in the 

west and/or locations with well drained sandy soils. 

Duffy Creek and Wallowa Source Identified 

Germplasm (Poa sandbergii) are releases from 

Benson Farms Inc. Both are intended for use in arid 

sites throughout the western states. 

Reliable Selected Germplasm Sandberg bluegrass 

(Poa sandbergii) was released by the USDA-ARS 

and the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station in 

2004. This is a multi-origin germplasm stemming 

from 28 collections representing seven USDA-NRCS 

ecological sites. Reliable was developed for its high 

genetic diversity and to provide adaptation over a 

broad ecological range (Waldron and others 2006). 

G1 and G2 seed is maintained by the USDA-ARS 

Forage and Range Research Laboratory, Logan, UT. 

G3 seed is available through the Utah Crop 

Improvement Association. Seed through the G5

generation will be eligible for certification as 

Selected Class germplasm. 

References 

Alderson, J. and W.C. Sharp. 1994. Grass Varieties 

in the United States. Rev. ed. Agricultural Handbook 

170. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 296 p. 
Arnow, L.A. 1981. Poa secunda Presl. Versus P. 

sandbergii Vasey (Poaceae). Systmatic Botany 

6:412-421. 

Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren and 

J.L. Reveal. 1977. Intermountain Flora: Vascular 

Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. The New 

York Botanical Garden. 

Hitchcock, A.S. 1935. Manual of the Grasses of the 

United States. Miscellaneous Publication No. 200. 

US Printing Office, Washington D.C. 

Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, M. Owenby and J.W. 

Thompson. 1969. Vascular Plants of the Pacific 

Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, 

WA. 

Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist. 1976. Flora of 

the Pacific Northwest-An Illustrated Manual. 

University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 

Johnson, R.J. and G.E. Larson. 1999. Grassland 

Plants of South Dakota and the Northern Great 

Plains. B-566, South Dakota State University, 

Brookings, SD. 

Kellogg, E.A. 1985a. A biosystematic study of the 

Poa secunda complex. J. Arnold Arboretum 66:201-

242. 

Kellogg, E.A. 1985b. Variation and names in the 

Poa secunda complex. J. Range Management. 

38:516-521. 

Kellogg, E.A. 1987. Apomixis in the Poa secunda

complex. American Journal of Botany 74: 1431-

1437. 

Monsen, S.B., Stevens, R. and N. Shaw. 2004. 

Grasses. In: S.B. Monsen, R. Stevens, and N.L. Shaw 

[compilers]. Restoring western ranges and wildlands. 

Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky 

Mountain Research Station. General Technical 

Report RMRS-GTR-136-vol-2. p. 295-424. 

Mosman, D. 2005. Personal communication. 

Mosman Seed Ranch. Craigmont, ID. 

Schwendiman, J.L. 1971. Culture and uses of 

‘Sherman’ big bluegrass. USDA SCS Plant Science 

Handbook. Spokane, WA. 

USDA Forest Service. 1937. Range Plant Handbook. 

U.S Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 

Waldron, B.L., S.R. Larson, K.B. Jensen, R.D. 

Harrison, A.J. Palazzo and T.J. Cary. 2006. 

Registration of Reliable Sandberg Bluegrass 

Germplasm. Crop Science 46: 487-488. 

Prepared By 

Derek Tilley, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, 

Aberdeen, Idaho 

Dan Ogle, Plant Materials Specialist, 

USDA NRCS, Boise, Idaho 

Mark Majerus, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, 

Bridger, Montana (retired) 

Roger Hybner, USDA NRCS, Plant Materials Center, 

Bridger, Montana 

Larry Holzworth, USDA NRCS, Bozeman, Montana 

(retired) 

Mark Stannard, USDA NRCS, Plant Materials 

Center, Pullman, Washington 

Species Coordinator 

Dan Ogle, USDA NRCS, Boise, Idaho 

Edited: djt010407; dgo041008; lkh110706; ms120706; 081006 jsp 

For more information about this and other plants, please contact 

your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the 

PLANTS Web site<http://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials 

Program Web site <http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov> 

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