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Cheat-grass

Bromus tectorum

Found in disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

-30
Harmful

Not native to Mississippi. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 65%

Height
In contrast, where moisture, fertility or light intensity are not limiting, cheatgrass plants may produce 12-15 culms, 20 to 30 inches tall, bearing hundreds of spikelets [307,438].
Light
Partial shade, Full sun
Soil moisture
Dry to wet

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Mississippi.

At a glance

Bloom
April to June

Not yet recorded · Spread · Life cycle · Leaves

Recorded in 19 Mississippi counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

12CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including MS

Genus host records with ranges including MS · Bromus

  • Amblyscirtes vialisCommon Roadside-Skipper, Black Little Skipper
  • Anatrytone loganDelaware Skipper, Logan Skipper, Black-Vein Skipper
  • Ancyloxypha numitorLeast Skipper
  • Cercyonis pegalaCommon Wood Nymph
  • Cisseps fulvicollisYellow-Collared Scape Moth
  • Dargida diffusaWheat Head Armywotm Moth
  • Hesperia leonardusLeonard's Skipper, Blazing Star Skipper, Pawnee Prairie Skipper, Pawnee Montane Skipper
  • Leucania phragmitidicolaNeedle Wainscot, Phragmites Wainscot
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
Show all 12
  • Elachista illectella
  • Gonioterma mistrella
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
11BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Bromus

  • Alectoris chukarChukar
  • Anser albifronsGreater White-fronted Goose
  • Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
  • Corvus brachyrhynchosAmerican Crow
  • Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
  • Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
  • Oreortyx pictusMountain Quail
  • Perdix perdixGray Partridge
  • Spizella pusillaField Sparrow
  • Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling
Show all 11
  • Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned Sparrow
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Poaceae

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Cheat grass; Chess; Downy Brome; Downy Cheat; Downy Chess

Conservation status

Mississippi rankSNA
Global rankGNR
MS statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources