A perennial grass 50-150 cm. high. Many very slender stems arise from small rhizomes. The sheaths are usually hairless.
Nodes often have a blue to reddish- purple color.
A single, short, delicate, and straight awn arises from or near the middle of the lemma. Canada bluejoint grass commonly occurs as a subdominant in sedge meadows, and is the most frequent grass associate of the sedges. This grass stands up well in winter making it a good source of food and cover for wildlife.