Each small plant can produce about 100 seed in as few as 8 weeks. Viable seed can be produced just a few days after pollination, which allows the plant to reseed even in frequently mowed turf. Annual bluegrass has a fairly weak, shallow, root system and needs available moisture from rainfall or frequent irrigation to survive. It grows well in moist areas in full sun. However, it can also do well in semi-shaded conditions.
Annual bluegrass can also grow in compacted soil conditions.
In coastal regions or in moderate temperature areas where turf is frequently irrigated, annual bluegrass may persist all year. In warmer areas, it usually dies in summer. In turf it forms a weak sod that provides poor footing for athletic fields and golf courses. In addition, unsightly seed heads of annual bluegrass reduce the aesthetic quality of the turf. This accounts for the severity of annual bluegrass invasions during winter.