How to Grow and Care for Bromes

Rescuegrass (Bromus catharticus) is a short-lived grass species that is often considered a weed. The name rescuegrass comes the reputation of this species to save animals from food shortages. This plant is indigenous to South America. It was originally imported to North America for feeding livestock. It’s also known as “Schrader’s Bromegrass.”

Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) grows best in full sunlight and often grows on roadsides, fields and prairies. It’s indigenous to Europe and was brought to the United States sometime in the mid-nineteenth century. Botanists consider smooth brome to be an ecological threat because of its aggressive root system.

Lop grass (Bromus hordeaceus) is a grass species also known as bull grass, soft cheat, and soft chess. Lop grass grows on roadsides, waste ground, meadows, and cultivated land. This species is native to the Mediterranean basin, and grows widely throughout the world.

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is a winter annual grass native to parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, but invasive in the rest of the world. It is a problem weed in parts of North America, where it can increase fire danger. It germinates in winter and lasts about 8 weeks. It produces an abundance of seeds that germinate the following year, spreading aggressively.

Great brome (Bromus diandrus) is a grass species native to the Mediterranean region. Great brome is also known as great brome. This species is considered an invasive species in wheat fields and can drastically decrease wheat yields.