Fringe Brome
Bromus ciliatus
Last reviewed: September 2026
Bromus ciliatus, or Fringe Brome, is a cool-season perennial grass that blooms from June through August, growing well in part sun with medium to consistently moist soil along woodland edges, meadows, and stream banks.
Toxicity unknown
Fringe Brome (Bromus ciliatus) 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.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Fringe Brome as toxic to livestock.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
24"–48" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AZ, CA, CO and 30 more states
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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Bromus ciliatus is a native prairie grass that forms medium-sized clumps with slender, arching stems. It produces delicate seed heads in summer and provides good texture in naturalized plantings. This cool-season grass goes dormant in winter, turning golden brown before dying back.
Growing Fringe Brome
Grow Fringe Brome in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Fringe Brome takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Genus includes weedy species that HOAs often prohibit
- Seed heads can appear messy or unkempt
- May be confused with invasive brome grasses
Wildlife value
While not a major pollinator plant, this grass provides nesting material for birds and shelter for beneficial insects. The seeds are eaten by various songbirds and small mammals.
Common questions
- When does Fringe Brome bloom?
- Fringe Brome typically flowers from June through August, producing drooping seed heads on slender stems.
- What growing conditions does Fringe Brome need?
- It does best in part sun with medium moisture, and it also handles wetter soils, making it suited to woodland edges, meadows, and streamside plantings.
- How tall does Fringe Brome grow?
- Mature plants generally reach two to four feet tall, with a loose, arching growth habit typical of woodland brome grasses.
- Is Fringe Brome a warm-season or cool-season grass?
- Fringe Brome is a cool-season perennial grass, greening up early in spring and flowering by early summer.
- Is Fringe Brome toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Fringe Brome as toxic to livestock.
- Is Fringe Brome HOA-friendly?
- Fringe Brome takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Fringe Brome? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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