Soft brome
Bromus hordeaceus · Poaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant soft brome: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Bromus hordeaceus
- Family
- Poaceae (grasses)
- Type
- Annual or biennial grass
- Adult height
- 30 to 100 cm depending on conditions
- Flowering
- April to July
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, tolerates harsh winters
- Origin
- Mediterranean and temperate regions of Europe
- Foliage
- Deciduous, disappears after summer flowering
Care
Light exposure
Soft brome thrives in full sun to partial shade. It adapts to most lighting situations and is not afraid of windy exposures. In very hot regions, some afternoon shade can extend its growing season.
Soil
This grass is undemanding and tolerates poor, rocky or well-draining soils. It adapts to chalky, clay or sandy terrain. Avoid only permanently wet soils, which it cannot tolerate.
Watering
Soft brome requires only moderate watering once established. During spring growth, keep the soil slightly moist. After summer flowering, the plant enters dormancy and needs virtually no water.
Fertilizer
No fertilizer is needed for this hardy grass. It relies on the natural reserves in the soil. Excess fertilization would encourage overly vigorous growth at the expense of hardiness.
Pruning and cutting
No pruning is essential. You can cut back dried stems in late summer or autumn to tidy up the plant. In areas where it self-seeds naturally, remove spikelets before they fully mature to control spread.
Pests and diseases
Soft brome is very robust and rarely affected by serious diseases. In overly humid conditions, some fungi may appear, but this is rare. Good foliage air circulation is generally enough to prevent any problems.
Did you know?
Soft brome is a pioneering grass very common in wastelands and abandoned sites across Europe. Its characteristic spikelets, which hang gracefully at maturity, disperse easily by wind and water, making it a species capable of rapidly colonizing disturbed areas. Its name "hordeaceus" means "resembling barley," referring to its flower heads.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Tufted hair grassDeschampsia cespitosa
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Reed canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.