Woodland Brome (Bromus pubescens)
Bromus poo-BESS-enz

Deciduous Perennial Clump-Forming in the Poaceae Family

A native, shade-loving perennial grass that brings fine-bladed texture and gentle movement to woodland gardens and shaded borders.

Bromus pubescens (Woodland Brome, also called Hairy Woodland Brome or Canada Brome) is a cool-season perennial grass native to rich, shaded woodlands across the eastern and central United States and into Canada, including the Chicago region. It grows in loose, upright tufts of soft, hairy green blades, reaching 2-4 feet tall when its airy, drooping seed spikelets emerge in early and midsummer.

In the wild it favors mesic woodlands, wooded riverbanks, savannas, and the shaded edges of swamps, tolerating soil from average to consistently moist. Its seeds feed Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, and woodland sparrows, making it a quietly useful native for a shade garden.

Pros

  • Thrives in partial to full shade, where few ornamental grasses perform well
  • Native to the Chicago region; seeds feed woodland birds
  • Soft, fine-textured foliage and airy, drooping seed heads add movement to shaded plantings

Cons

  • Flowers and seed heads are subtle rather than showy
  • Prefers consistently moist, humus-rich soil and may struggle in dry shade
  • Self-seeds readily in good conditions and may need occasional thinning
Highlights
  • One of the few ornamental grasses that thrives in full shade
  • Native woodland grass that supports birds and wildlife
  • Airy, drooping seed heads add texture from summer into fall
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 48 inches tall. 8 - 12 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Deciduous, For a Shady Spot, Full Shade, Grasses, Insignificant Flowers, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Shade Tolerant, Wet, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period May to June, July to August
Flower Color Green (inconspicuous)
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!