California Brome (Bromus sitchensis var. carinatus)

Bromus sitchensis var. carinatus is a species of native bunchgrass known by the common names California Brome and Mountain Brome. It is native to western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico, where it can be found in many types of habitat. It is found in every county in California. It is a perennial grass growing in clumps 0.5 to 1.5 meters tall, with many narrow leaves up to 40 centimeters long. The flower cluster is a spreading or drooping array of flat spikelets longer than they are wide. The grass is wind-pollinated but is also sometimes cleistogamous, so that the flowers pollinate themselves, especially under stressful conditions. It also reproduces vegetatively via tillers. This grass is used for control of erosion and revegetation of damaged land, as well as a highly palatable forage for livestock. In the garden it has a reputation for being short-lived but readily re-seeds. It completes well with non-native weeds, and its sod-building root system makes it useful for erosion control. From Calscape.

Grower: Heritage Growers

Other Names Used: Brooms carinatus, Sitka brome, Alaska brome, Common Brome, Mountain Brome

Family: Poaceae

Life Cycle: Perennial

Plant Type: Grass

Sun Exposure: Full, Partial

Bloom Period: Summer

Bloom Color(s): Yellow

Plant Height: 1-5 feet tall

Plant Width: 1 foot wide

California Regions:

• San Francisco Bay Area
• North Coast
• Central Valley
• Sierra Foothills
• Sierra Nevada
• Central California Coast
• Southern Coast
• Southern California Inland
• Desert

Ecological Benefits:

• Drought Tolerant
  
• Fire Safe
• Deer Resistant
• Attracts pollinators, birds, wildlife
  

Ecological Functions:

• Lawn Replacement
• Groundcover

Habitat Type:

• Chaparral
• Valley Grassland
• Yellow Pine Forest
• Red Fir Forest
• Lodgepole Forest
• Subalpine Forest
• Foothill Woodland
• Alpine Fell-fields

Human Uses/Cautions: 

Skill Level: Beginner

Seed Pretreatment: None