Bildoj [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Seeds

Field brome is a winter annual. It produces dense, low, leafy growth in the fall. Spring growth starts earlier than most other annual grasses used for cover crops. It does not have creeping stolons or rhizomes, but tillers profusely. It produces seedheads in late spring or early summer. Seed stalks are 2 to 3 feet tall. The principal characteristics that make it an outstanding cover crop are the extensive fibrous root system and the relatively short top growth. It is winter hardy in northeast and north central regions.

It grows vigorously under high fertility conditions and often smothers other grasses or weeds. It is an excellent seed producer and can maintain itself as a reseeding annual. There are 250,000 seeds per pound.

Daderot [CC0 or CC0], from Wikimedia Commons

Early growth habit

Robert H. Mohlenbrock, Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. From Wikimedia Commons

Seedheads

Bildoj [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Seeds