Cheatgrass / downy brome
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Bromus tectorum
Colorado List C — Manage widespread weeds. S20
Widespread and well established. Control is recommended by the state; local governments may require management. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.
Grass awns · Fire hazard. Native status, garden use and noxious-weed class are separate from toxicity. Exposure help.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. The cited findings are available below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Photos are source-identified examples, not a complete identification key. Check leaves, stems, flowers and fruit together. Locations are not assumed to be in Colorado.
AnRo0002 · CC0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Other annual brome grasses can resemble cheatgrass. Photographs document source-identified B. tectorum; detailed spikelet and hair characters may be needed for an unknown specimen.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Other annual brome grasses can resemble cheatgrass. Photographs document source-identified B. tectorum; detailed spikelet and hair characters may be needed for an unknown specimen.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Michel Langeveld · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source page scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. Other annual brome grasses can resemble cheatgrass. Photographs document source-identified B. tectorum; detailed spikelet and hair characters may be needed for an unknown specimen.
Wikimedia server-resized derivative; no crop, color change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
An annual grass with soft hairs and drooping seed heads. Often turns reddish-brown, then dries early in summer. S20
Plants & habitat
Competes early for resources, displaces native plants, and creates dry fuels that increase wildfire risk. S20
People
Dense, dry growth is highly flammable. The principal human hazard emphasized by the Colorado source is wildfire. S20
Dogs & cats
Barbed grass seeds can lodge in tissue and cause infection. Check fur and paws; seek veterinary help for persistent sneezing, head shaking, or an embedded seed. S22
Other animals
CSU lists cheatgrass among plants that cause mechanical injury to livestock. Habitat displacement also affects wildlife. S21 S20
Before taking action
Confirm the scientific name before removing a plant, changing animal access, or choosing treatment. An evidence gap means this review has not resolved the question. It does not mean safe. For listed weeds, consult your county weed program about the requirements for your location; follow the current label for any pesticide. S27
References
- S20 — Cheatgrass and Wildfire, Colorado State University Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:55+00:00. Locator: Introduction; How to Identify Cheatgrass; Fire Hazards.
- S22 — Foxtails and Dogs, UC Davis · School of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed 2026-09-06. Locator: Takeaways; signs; prevention.
- S21 — Source Unit in Range and Pasture Management, Colorado State University Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:55+00:00. Locator: Printed page 44: plants that can cause mechanical injury.