California Bromegrass (Bromus carinatus) is a native bunchgrass. It is often used interchangeably and synonymously with Mountain Brome. It is native to western North America from Alaska to northern Mexico. It is found in every county in California. It is found in a variety of habitats and ecosystems.
California Bromegrass is a perennial grass growing in clumps 0.5 to 1.5 meters tall. It 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.
