It is a native bunchgrass in the North-central and Northeastern United States, the Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada.

The specific epithet kalmii refers to its discoverer Pehr Kalm.

The firm and scabrous leaf blades are either pubescent or glabrous and are 7–17 cm (2.8–6.7 in) long and 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) wide.

The densely hairy lemmas are oblong to elliptical in shape, and have straight awns 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long.

[4] Bromus kalmii grows in dry or moist open areas or thickets, especially on calcareous soils.