Photo: Cheng-Tao LinCC BY 4.0via iNaturalistresized / cropped
Wood False Brome Plant Care
Brachypodium sylvaticum P.Beauv.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
With slender, tapering leaves that form a dense tuft, this plant is native to Europe and Asia. Plant collectors are drawn to Brachypodium sylvaticum for its elegant appearance and its adaptability to a variety of soil types and growing conditions.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Wood False Brome?
Water Wood False Brome every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 8 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Wood False Brome Native To?
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kenya
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Malta
- Mauritania
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of the Congo
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sudan
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- The Netherlands
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the Wood False Brome?
Wood False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Brachypodium genus. Wood False Brome is native to Europe, Asia and Africa. Wood False Brome is also known as Slender False Brome, Forest False Brome.
Wood False Brome displays a clumping grass growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Wood False Brome produces small inconspicuous flowers in spikelets.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Wood False Brome?
Brachypodium sylvaticum requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Wood False Brome Need?
Wood False Brome thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Wood False Brome Prefer?
Brachypodium sylvaticum grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Wood False Brome prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Wood False Brome?
Well-draining loamy soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Wood False Brome to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Wood False Brome?
Feed Wood False Brome every 8 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 8 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Wood False Brome?
Divide clumps every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Wood False Brome?
Wood False Brome can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to stiffstalk false brome plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Wood False Brome Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Wood False Brome, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Wood False Brome?
Wood False Brome is susceptible to aphids, grasshoppers, cutworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Wood False Brome Need?
Wood False Brome grows outdoors in USDA Zone 5a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 5a. Wood False Brome is native to Europe, Asia and Africa.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 5a – 9b
Keep exploring plants
Wood False Brome is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Brachypodium genus — compare its care with other Brachypodium species on PlantoScan.
Brachypodium is part of the Poaceae plant family — browse all Poaceae genera and species.
Wood False Brome thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Brachypodium sylvaticum P.Beauv., family Poaceae (first published in Ess. Agrostogr. : 101, 155 (1812)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Wood False Brome, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Cheng-Tao Lin, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 5a – 9b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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