It is the most common species of Bromus in Britain, where it can be found on roadsides, waste ground, meadows, and cultivated land.

It is found throughout Europe and western Asia, and was introduced into North and South America and Australia.

The moderately to densely pilose leaf sheaths are mostly closed, with hairs 1.2 mm (0.047 in) long.

[4] It grows during winter and flowers from late spring onwards, maturing in the summer.

[4] Bromus hordeaceus is native to the Mediterranean basin, and is now widely distributed across North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.

It grows in waste areas, road verges, fields, grassy plains, and sandy beaches.

[4] The grass prefers drained or dry soils consisting of clay loam or sand, especially areas tending to be less fertile.

It grows in wheat and spring barley crops competing and reducing their yield.

This includes hygiene to minimise its introduction to the fields as well as cleaning the fence lines where the infestation is more severe.

Growers in New Zealand use stubble burning to reduce the seed input in the following crops.

ferronii, the least soft brome, is a rare annual that occurs in northwestern Europe.

This subspecies is primarily a forage plant, and occurs in waste places and roadsides.

molliformis is a tufted annual occurring in France, Italy, California, Idaho, and New Mexico.

The subspecies grows as a weed in cultivated areas, typically in dry soils but rarely in wetlands.

The subspecies can be mistaken for Bromus lepidus in its similar lemma form and characteristics.

thominei, the lesser soft brome, occurs in West Europe and the western United States, in California and the Pacific coast of Canada.