This is a tiny clumping grass. Does anybody know the name of it? I'm trying to find out how invasive it is because I'm tempted to start growing it.

Do you know whether it is annual or perennial?

My first thought is that it is a sedge. If so you probably don't want it.

KellyFW said: Do you know whether it is annual or perennial?

I don't. But I've seen it in the woods so my suspicion is that it's native. It's very small and clump forming.

Looking at the seed heads in the first pic I would say it is a sisyrinchium of some sort - aka Blue-Eyed Grass

Blue eyed grass was my impression also for the same reason. Are the leaves a little waxy?

I recognise this...cute but very invasive.
Cannot be positive re name but maybe Juncus bufonius...common name Toad rush.
Please compare to pics in link.
https://www.naturespot.org.uk/...

https://www.google.com/search?...

Doesn't look right for Sisyrinchium../blue eyed grass.

https://www.google.com/search?...

Are you able to add a pic of one of those seed pods?

Pic trimmed .

Rushes have round blades in cross section so that would be an easy thing to check. Does it? If not, carex is something to look at too. Rushes are round, sedges have edges.

Here is not such a good picture of blue-eyed grass in my yard with some seed pods for comparison. I can't really see good detail in your photo. Right now, those pods are brown here, but I could take new photos. It blooms in May/June. It is the species, not Lucerne. I also have juncus growing in my lawn. The seeds look more like dried flowers, not round pods. I can't think of the right term now. Of course there are many different rushes.




Here are pictures of Sisyrinchium angustifolium on the Prairie Moon website
https://www.prairiemoon.com/si...

There are many sedges. If you can get a good photo of the seed pod and how it is on the stem, that would help a bit.

Sedge or rush, you don't want it.

There are some desirable sedges such as Carex radiata and Carex pensylvanica as examples. At least by some gardeners, especially those looking for lawn substitutes and ground covers. Still, that is another conversation. Sedge blades tend to be triangular, also. I am pretty sure I see your plant growing around here in grassy areas.

I feel sure it isn't Blue-eyed grass, which is a member of the Iris family and has flattish leaf blades like most Iris species.

My first thought was 'sedge', but I can't see the seed head at all clearly, so I wouldn't rule out rushes, such as the helpfully named 'Sedge Rush' (Juncus scirpoides). https://guides.nynhp.org/sedge...

Prairie Moon Nursery sells seeds of a lot of native grasses, sedges, rushes, etc., and I'm sharing a link because they have some really nice photos of most of the things they offer. A LOT of online photos of grasses are not so useful to non-botanists.
https://www.prairiemoon.com/pr...

I think this might be it. it's very tiny, never seen it flower so don't think it's the blue eyed grass. I'm gonna pull it for now. just to be safe.

Silversurfer said: I recognise this...cute but very invasive.
Cannot be positive re name but maybe Juncus bufonius...common name Toad rush.
Please compare to pics in link.
https://www.naturespot.org.uk/...

https://www.google.com/search?...

Doesn't look right for Sisyrinchium../blue eyed grass.

https://www.google.com/search?...

Just to be clear, if it is Juncus bufolnius, it is native to your area.
http://bonap.net/Napa/TaxonMap...

I know people use the word 'invasive' to simply mean weedy, but I try not to say something is invasive unless it is both weedy *and* exotic. Only you can tell if a plant is weedy, since a weed is any plant you decide you have too much of, or that keeps showing up in the wrong place...i.e., you have to weed it.

Looks exactly like what I have in the grass and nearby flower beds. It's Umbrella Sedge; I kill it when I see it. Dig it out or spray it. My garden is in northern-coastal San Diego.

What spray do you use to kill it? Does it stay dead?

I think the posted plant is too tiny for blueyed grass. The ones I have growing have
much longer blades but fewer when young. Also note blue eyed grass has yellow roots, helps ID. Blue eyed grass pods are smooth- are sedges and rushes spiky seedheads/pods? Blue eyed grass blades are obviously flattened- as metnioned before.
I've been invaded by a small but mighty sedge like thing here- do not unleash in your garden without careful consideration.

It is toad rush and a nasty weed to get rid of, likes it wet and thrives in wet, compacted soil. If your soil is so bad nothing else grows, well it is better than blackberries! At least it doesn't bite. Invasive is any "weed" that spreads fast and easy, turf grass is a weed for me. A "weed" is just a plant out of place. Weeds I like I call "volunteers".