North America Non-native Plant

Bromus Hordeaceus Ferronii

Botanical name: Bromus hordeaceus ferronii

USDA symbol: BRHOF

Habit: grass

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Synonyms: Bromus ferronii Mabille (BRFE6)   

Bromus hordeaceus ferronii: The Mystery Grass That’s Hard to Pin Down Ever stumbled across a plant name that seems to exist in botanical limbo? Meet Bromus hordeaceus ferronii, a grass species that’s about as elusive as a unicorn in your backyard. While this plant does appear in some botanical references, ...

Bromus hordeaceus ferronii: The Mystery Grass That’s Hard to Pin Down

Ever stumbled across a plant name that seems to exist in botanical limbo? Meet Bromus hordeaceus ferronii, a grass species that’s about as elusive as a unicorn in your backyard. While this plant does appear in some botanical references, finding solid information about it is like trying to catch morning dew with your bare hands.

What We Actually Know

Here’s the straightforward scoop on what we can confirm about Bromus hordeaceus ferronii:

  • It belongs to the Bromus genus, which means it’s a type of brome grass
  • As a monocot, it’s related to other grasses, sedges, and similar plants
  • It has a botanical synonym: Bromus ferronii Mabille
  • Beyond that… well, the trail gets pretty cold

The Information Gap Problem

Unfortunately, reliable details about this particular plant’s native range, growing conditions, wildlife benefits, and garden suitability are virtually nonexistent in accessible botanical literature. This could mean several things: the plant might be extremely rare, geographically limited, or possibly an outdated taxonomic designation that’s been reclassified.

Should You Grow It?

Here’s where things get a bit tricky. Without knowing this plant’s native status, invasive potential, or basic growing requirements, it’s impossible to give you solid gardening advice. We can’t tell you whether it’s a garden gem or a potential problem child.

Better Alternatives for Your Garden

Instead of chasing this botanical ghost, why not consider some well-documented native brome grasses that we actually know something about? Depending on your region, you might look into:

  • Native bunch grasses that provide excellent wildlife habitat
  • Regional prairie grasses with proven track records
  • Local grass species recommended by your native plant society

The Bottom Line

Sometimes in the plant world, mystery doesn’t equal magic. While Bromus hordeaceus ferronii might sound intriguing, the lack of available information makes it a risky choice for home gardeners. Your time and garden space are precious—why not invest them in native plants with well-documented benefits and clear growing guides?

If you’re absolutely determined to track down this elusive grass, we’d recommend contacting botanical gardens, university extension services, or specialized grass researchers. They might have more detailed information or can point you toward similar, better-documented species that could scratch that same botanical itch.

Bromus Hordeaceus Ferronii

Classification

Group

Monocot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Liliopsida - Monocotyledons

Subclass

Commelinidae

Order

Cyperales

Family

Poaceae Barnhart - Grass family

Genus

Bromus L. - brome

Species

Bromus hordeaceus L. - soft brome

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA