Skip to main content

Alaska brome

Bromus sitchensis

Last reviewed: November 2026

Alaska brome (Bromus sitchensis) is a perennial grass native to CA, OR, WA. It blooms in May, June, and July. The flowers draw wind-pollinated.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Alaska brome, free in the app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
Alaska brome (Bromus sitchensis)
Photo: (c) Joe Dillon, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Alaska brome (Bromus sitchensis) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

24"–48" H × 18"–24" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

CA, OR, WA

Pollinators

wind-pollinated

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Alaska brome.

A robust, clumping perennial grass with broad, soft blades and open, drooping seed heads that appear in late spring along forest edges and coastal grassland. It has a looser habit than fine ornamental grasses.

Growing Alaska brome

Grow Alaska brome in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 18 to 24 inches wide.

Get an email before your first frost

We'll email you a week before frost can first reach your ZIP. You also get a printable fall checklist with your dates right away.

You'll also get our weekly yard notes. Unsubscribe anytime.

Wildlife value

Seed heads provide food for birds, and the grass clumps offer shelter for small mammals and ground-nesting insects.

Common questions

How much sun does Alaska brome need?
Alaska brome grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Alaska brome bloom?
Alaska brome blooms in May, June, and July.
Where is Alaska brome native?
Alaska brome (Bromus sitchensis) is native to CA, OR, WA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Alaska brome attract?
Alaska brome draws wind-pollinated.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Alaska brome? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.