Meadow bromegrass is a long lived perennial which produces short, stout thizomes 4 to 6 inches long. The plant has numerous light green leaves and the seed stalks are from 24 to 48 inches high. Seeds are similar in appearance to smooth bromegrass, but they are almost twice the size and have much larger awns.

Meadow brome is adapted to the same soils and climatic conditions as smooth brome. Meadow bromegrass can extend the prime grazing season as well as increase total forage production, and is very compatible with alfalfa. It has good drought tolerance and excellent winter hardiness.

Grown alone or in a mixture with a legume produces excellent hay, so it is very palatable to cattle, sheep and horses. Meadow bromegrass is also well adapted for pasture use. It starts spring growth earlier than most and is ready for grazing at an earlier date. Its strong regrowth characteristic gives it a good seasonal growth pattern and contributes to its value as a pasture forage.