Species Poverty Brome
brown-beige foliage and stems

Poverty Brome

Bromus sterilis

Poverty Brome, or Bromus sterilis, is a bunchgrass native to much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia and America. This grass is a common weed, but can also be kept as a lawn grass in drier areas. The stems of Poverty Brome are thin and weak but reach heights of 3-4 feet. Its narrow leaves are rough and narrow with a light green color. The spikelet is cylindric in shape, with rigidly bristly seeds. As its name implies, Poverty Brome is poor for grazing and hay production and difficult to control. However, it provides good cover for birds and other wildlife.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Watering for Poverty Brome (Bromus sterilis) should be done a few times a week. Aim for a total of 1-2 inches per week, either through rainfall or supplemental watering. Water deeply, but avoid saturating the soil. Allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. During the hottest summer months, especially if there is no rain, supplemental watering may be necessary. Water in the morning to give the plant adequate time to dry before dusk.

sunlight

Poverty Brome (Bromus sterilis) is a cool-season grass that grows best in full sun. It prefers light, well-drained soils and requires plenty of water during the warm summer months. It also needs good air circulation to avoid disease and pest damage. During spring, poverty brome should be exposed to a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight a day, with 8 to 12 hours being optimal. In the summer, poverty brome should receive full sun to allow it to reach its full potential. During autumn, the amount of light exposure can be decreased slowly to about 4 to 6 hours a day, although some protection from the sun during the hottest parts of the day is beneficial.

pruning

Poverty Brome (Bromus sterilis) is a species of perennial grass that is well adapted to dry conditions and drought. Pruning of this plant species should be done in early spring, before new growth starts to appear. Pruning should be limited to about 1/4 - 1/3 of the plant, as too much pruning can damage the plant and lead to deterioration. Removing dead and yellowing or brown leaves is important to promote healthier, greener growth on the plant as well as to increase air circulation. When pruning to reduce the height of the plant, it is important to avoid cutting too close to the base of the stem as this could cause the plant to become unstable and eventually topple over.