Prairie Brome Grass (Bromus kalmia) is a short-lived perennial grass that typically lasts 3 to 5 years and thrives in hardiness zones 3 to 6. It is native to the North Central and Northeastern United States, including the Great Lakes region and Eastern Canada.
This attractive short grass features slender stems that droop gracefully under the weight of its seeds. It is excellent for stabilizing steep slopes and serves as a vital food source for birds and small mammals, providing cover and habitat as well. The plant has panicles that grow 4 to 6 inches long and contain 1 to 3 flattened, wheat-like spikelet’s that change from green to yellow during July, August, and September. The leaves and seeds are neither fragrant nor produce nectar, but the plant does provide pollen and is wind pollinated. It also makes a beautiful addition to floral arrangements, pairing well with dried lavender.
Prairie Brome Grass attracts birds and small mammals, offering food and shelter for ground-nesting birds, as well as acting as a host plant for butterflies and moths. It requires full sun to partial shade and reaches a mature height of 2 to 3 feet, with a spread of 12 to 18 inches. The grass prefers sandy or rocky soils that are moist to dry.
The leaf blades are flat, erect to ascending, and range from 3 to 10 inches long and about 3/8 inch wide. The surfaces are mostly hairless, and the stems often emerge as a single stem or a few stems from the base, forming a loose clump. The stems have hair near the nodes, and the grass overall has a pleasing appearance with alternate leaves displaying a grayish-blue hue.
The root system is fibrous, and suitable companion plants include prairie coreopsis, pale purple coneflower, butterfly weed, black-eyed Susan, and purple coneflower. Prairie Brome Grass can be propagated primarily by seed or division and is deer-resistant, although rabbits may sample the plant. Division should occur in early spring or fall.
Historically, this grass was first described in 1848 in a manual of the botany of the Northern United States by Asa Gray.
Prairie Brome Grass (Bromus kalmia) is a short-lived perennial grass that typically lasts 3 to 5 years and thrives in hardiness zones 3 to 6. It is native to the North Central and Northeastern United States, including the Great Lakes region and Eastern Canada.
This attractive short grass features slender stems that droop gracefully under the weight of its seeds. It is excellent for stabilizing steep slopes and serves as a vital food source for birds and small mammals, providing cover and habitat as well. The plant has panicles that grow 4 to 6 inches long and contain 1 to 3 flattened, wheat-like spikelet’s that change from green to yellow during July, August, and September. The leaves and seeds are neither fragrant nor produce nectar, but the plant does provide pollen and is wind pollinated. It also makes a beautiful addition to floral arrangements, pairing well with dried lavender.
Prairie Brome Grass attracts birds and small mammals, offering food and shelter for ground-nesting birds, as well as acting as a host plant for butterflies and moths. It requires full sun to partial shade and reaches a mature height of 2 to 3 feet, with a spread of 12 to 18 inches. The grass prefers sandy or rocky soils that are moist to dry.
The leaf blades are flat, erect to ascending, and range from 3 to 10 inches long and about 3/8 inch wide. The surfaces are mostly hairless, and the stems often emerge as a single stem or a few stems from the base, forming a loose clump. The stems have hair near the nodes, and the grass overall has a pleasing appearance with alternate leaves displaying a grayish-blue hue.
The root system is fibrous, and suitable companion plants include prairie coreopsis, pale purple coneflower, butterfly weed, black-eyed Susan, and purple coneflower. Prairie Brome Grass can be propagated primarily by seed or division and is deer-resistant, although rabbits may sample the plant. Division should occur in early spring or fall.
Historically, this grass was first described in 1848 in a manual of the botany of the Northern United States by Asa Gray.
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