Blue Moor-grass

Common Name: Blue Moor-grass

Latin Name: Seslaria caerulea

Family: Poaceae

Within Britain this attractive grass species is a northern speciality, and it is virtually restricted to the carboniferous limestone areas in northern England. As a result of this dependency upon limestone, another common name is popular, blue rock-grass.

In the Yorkshire Dales National Park blue moor-grass is common: in pastures which have thin soil over limestone; on the clints of Limestone Pavement; and on rocky ledges. As a result of local geology it is most frequent in the southern part of the Yorkshire Dales. In the early spring the hillsides of Wharfedale are often tinged with blue from the nodding grass-heads. In grassland it is frequently the dominant grass species growing with other calcareous species including common rock-rose (Helianthmum nummularium).