Hordeum jubatum

RHS Plant Profile
foxtail barley

Other common names

mouse barley, squirrel tail barley, squirrel tail grass

Award of Garden Merit
Grass Like

A densely-tufted annual or perennial grass, to 60cm tall. It has nodding panicles of silky, long-bristled green spikelets, often with a hint of red at the tips, in early to mid-summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Hordeum, also known as barley, are summer-flowering annual or perennial grasses that originate from temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and South America
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
N America, N E Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in situ in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Prairie planting
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free