Alphabetical Plant Listing

Hordeum jubatum (Foxtail Barley)

Foxtail Barley, Fox Squirrel Tail, Wild Barley


A very showy and attractive Ornamental Grass, Hordeum jubatum, commonly known as Foxtail Barley, features clumps of arching leaves, with distinctive feathery flower spikes that are green flushed with pale pink or purple and fade to light tan as they mature. Bending downward as if nodding off to sleep, these long silky tufted flowers resemble the tails of red foxes. They are on display from late spring until midsummer and last well in fresh or dried arrangements.

  • Native to North America, Foxtail Barley is a short-lived, cool-season perennial grass that is easy to grow and requires very little care.
  • Growing easily in dense bunches about 2 ft. tall (60 cm) and spreading 6-9 in. (15-22 cm), it thrives in full sun, in moist to dry, well-drained soils. Not fussy about soils, Foxtail Barley can also adapt to a wide range of moisture regimes from dry to wet. Although this species is generally found on moist sites, it can withstand drought-like conditions.
  • Glistening in the sun, this grass mixes beautifully with almost any flowering bulbs or perennials to create spectacular and elegantly mobile combinations. Mix the airy puffs of Foxtail Barley with the dark-leaved Dahlia 'Moonfire' and Feathertop Grass (Pennisetum villosum) to create a richly textured fall show.
  • This is a graceful plant for beds or borders, and rock gardens, and it looks stunning in mass plantings. This is also an excellent choice for naturalized meadows thanks to its ability to self-sow. Once installed, it is however difficult to eradicate.
  • Often found in pastures, roadsides, meadows, alkaline/saline areas, moist soils, and disturbed areas, Hordeum jubatum is considered a weed in several states and countries. Beautiful as it is, this decorative grass is unpopular with ranchers because it has sharply-barbed awns that can cause sores at the nose, eyes, and mouth of livestock.

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Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 10
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Plant Type Ornamental Grasses
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spread 6" – 9" (15cm – 22cm)
Spacing 9" – 12" (22cm – 30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, Alaska, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Salt
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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123RF Stock Photo, Teddington Gardener

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 10
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Plant Type Ornamental Grasses
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm)
Spread 6" – 9" (15cm – 22cm)
Spacing 9" – 12" (22cm – 30cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, Alaska, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Salt
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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