Bromus grandis
Tall brome
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Bromus grandis (Tall brome) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by tall stature, long blades, and large anthers diagnostic.
Tall brome is a California native perennial grass found in northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, central and southern Sierra Nevada, Central West, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in dry, open places, shrubland, oak woodland, and conifer forest at elevations of 365 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from May to July, this grass produces hairy, spreading to nodding spikelets 25 to 35 millimeters long with delicate branching. Growing with robust stems 70 to 180 centimeters tall and 3 to 7 nodes, it develops an open, expansive structure. Its leaf blades are 18 to 38 centimeters long, 3 to 12 millimeters wide, with hairy surfaces covering both the stem and basal sheaths. The spikelets feature distinctive hairy glumes and lemmas, with awns 3 to 6 millimeters long adding texture to its elegant form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; tall stature, long blades, and large anthers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open places, shrubland, oak woodland, conifer forest
Elevation: 365-2400 m
California counties: San Diego, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Santa Cruz, Placer, San Benito, Madera, Tuolumne, Napa, Yolo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, El Dorado
Outside California: Baja California.
Bloom period
Bromus grandis blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Nassella: Bromus has closed leaf sheaths and large spikelets; Nassella has open sheaths and needle-like awns.; vs Hordeum: Bromus has separate large spikelets; Hordeum has three spikelets grouped at each node.; vs Avena: Bromus lemmas have two teeth at tip; Avena lemmas have a twisted awn from the back.; vs Lolium: Bromus spikelets are stalked in clusters; Lolium spikelets sit edgewise against the stem.; vs Festuca: Bromus leaf sheaths are closed; Festuca sheaths split open halfway down.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bromus grandis native to California?
Yes. Bromus grandis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bromus grandis bloom?
Bromus grandis blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Bromus grandis grow?
Bromus grandis occurs in San Diego, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura and other counties, at elevations of 365-2400 m.
What plant family does Bromus grandis belong to?
Bromus grandis is in the Poaceae family, genus Bromus.
What habitat does Bromus grandis grow in?
Bromus grandis grows in Dry, open places, shrubland, oak woodland, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.