The blue canary grass is a species with a Mediterranean-Macaronesian distribution present in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, in almost all regions of Central and Southern Italy, and in the Islands (no more reported in recent times from Liguria). It grows as a weed at the margin of abandoned fields and along roads, on rather disturbed, dry soils, from sea level to about 1000 m. The species is rare in the outer belt of the Sardinian temporary ponds. The genus name derives from the Greek 'phalaros' (white-stained), in reference to the colour of the glumes; the species name refers to the bluish-green colour of the leaves. Flowering period: April to May.

Italian name(s): Phalaris cerulea (Italia), Sangnunara (Sicilia, Modica), Scagghiola sarvaggia (Sicilia), Scagliola cerulea (Italia).