Bluegrass Poa

Fire and Emergency New Zealand distinguishes silver tussock (Poa cita), rated Very high, from blue tussock (Poa colensoi), rated Moderate. The distinction matters when choosing a tussock. Tasmania Fire Service also puts its broadly named Poa grass selection, Poa sp., in the High Flammability group. For that high group, the service says to remove or exclude plants within the Building Protection Zone. It also advises avoiding them in the Fuel Modified Zone.

Idaho Firewise treats named turf species differently. Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa) scores 9, and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) scores 10. The guide connects those scores to suggested minimum distances from a home of 20 feet for Canada bluegrass and 10 feet for Kentucky bluegrass. Its plant notes also call for summer irrigation for Canada bluegrass and heavy irrigation for Kentucky bluegrass.

Those turf entries offer specific planting guidance for maintained, irrigated plants; they do not cancel the tussock classifications or Tasmania's generic warning. Choosing a Poa for a garden starts with its botanical name, then the matching regional advice and the care that advice requires.