Location specific values:
Array
(
    [lat] => 42.025600
    [lng] => -93.621700
    [elevation] => 279.3212
    [rainfall] => 851.411
    [cold_temperature] => -13.1
    [temperature] => 29.9532
    [user_eto] => 910.44051364
)

Plant specific values:
Array
(
    [rain_min_irrigation] => 456
    [eto_corrected] => 1010
    [eto_adjusted_rain_min (rain_min_irrigation / eto_corrected)] => 0.40891089
)
Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum) | Easyscape Plant Profile

Foxtail Barley

(Hordeum jubatum)

Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum)

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Estimated Native Range
Species Map Help

Climate Requirements for Ames, Iowa

This Plant Your Site Plant Suitability for Your Location
• Precipitation 3" - 118" 34" Your precipitation may be too high for this plant. Too high
• High Temp. 33°F - 108°F 86°F Your summer temperatures are normal for this plant. Excellent
• Low Temp. -55°F - 53°F 8°F Your winter temperatures are normal for this plant Excellent
This plant may not grow well at your location - your precipitation is too high.

Summary

Hordeum jubatum, commonly known as Foxtail Barley, is a deciduous perennial grass native to a variety of habitats including open woodlands, grasslands, and riparian zones across North America, East Asia, and Siberia. It can grow from 30–100 centimeters (12–39 inches) tall and is characterized by its erect or reclining base and densely tufted growth. The plant’s most striking feature is its inflorescence, a dense, long-awned nodding spike with greenish or purplish hues, which becomes an attractive infructescence after flowering. Foxtail Barley is particularly noted for its ability to thrive in saline soils, although it can grow in a range of soil types from loamy to clayey, with pH levels from 6.4 to 9.5.

This grass is valued for its ornamental inflorescences and is used in landscaping for its visual appeal and adaptability. It is suitable for naturalistic plantings and can be used to stabilize soil in disturbed areas. Foxtail Barley requires full sun and medium amounts of water, with a preference for medium or slow-draining soils. It is important to note that while it can tolerate drought, it generally prefers moist sites. Gardeners should be aware that Hordeum jubatum can be potentially invasive outside its native range, and it is advisable to consult local regulations before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Grass
  • Height: 1-2 feet
  • Width: 0.3-0.7 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands, grasslands, and riparian zones across North America, East Asia, and Siberia

Other Names

Common Names: Squirrel-Tail Barley, Foxtail, Bobtail Barley, Intermediate Barley, Squirreltail Barley, Squirreltail Grass, Wild Barley, Egernhale-Byg, Mähnengerste, Mähnen-Gerste

Scientific Names: Hordeum jubatum, Critesion jubatum, Hordeum jubatum var. jubatum, Hordeum vulgare subsp. intermedium, Hordeum jubatum subsp. intermedium, Hordeum caespitosum, Hordeum adscendens, Hordeum jubatum var. caespitosum, Elymus jubatus

GBIF Accepted Name: Hordeum jubatum L.