Ripgut Brome

Bromus diandrus

Scientific name

Bromus diandrus is a species of grass known by the common names great brome and ripgut brome.

This is a brome grass which is native to the Mediterranean but has been introduced to much of the rest of the world. It does best in areas with a Mediterranean climate, such as South Africa, but it is quite tolerant of many climates. Ripgut brome is a winter annual which grows throughout winter and spring and matures in the summer.

This brome grass is a troublesome weed in cereal crops and natural pasture lands. The life cycle of Bromus diandrus helps it to grow in wheat fields in which it can grow for most of the season without being noticed. Once the grass starts flowering, the open panicle seed head shows the infestation.

Propagation instructions

By seed

When the plant first emerges after the first few rains do an initial removal of this plant by holding it at the base and removing the root ball, or by inserting a weed tool at the base and popping up the root ball. If you missed any, do a follow up removal if necessary after a few weeks.

Do a second session targeting annual grasses after the last rains in late October or November to ensure no additional grasses that come up go to seed.

References and further reading

Wikipedia page »