When does foxtail barley bloom?

Foxtail barley blooms from May through July, producing feathery, bristled seed heads that give the plant its common name.

What growing conditions does foxtail barley need?

It grows best in full sun with low water once established, and it tolerates poor, disturbed, or slightly saline soils.

What pollinators does foxtail barley attract?

As a wind-pollinated grass it does not rely heavily on insects, but bees and beetles have been observed visiting the plant.

Is foxtail barley a good choice for a lawn or pasture?

It is usually treated as an unwanted grass in lawns and pastures because its sharp, barbed awns can cause physical injury to grazing animals and pets.

Is Foxtail Barley HOA-friendly?

Foxtail Barley takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Foxtail Barley

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Hordeum jubatum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Foxtail barley is a cool-season grass that thrives in full sun with low water, blooming from May through July with soft, bristly seed heads common in prairies, meadows, and roadside soils across much of the US.

Toxicity unknown

Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, CT and 38 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Southern Rockies Arizona/New Mexico Mountains Chihuahuan Deserts High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Central Great Plains Great Plains Central Irregular Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Northern Glaciated Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Erie Drift Plain Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Madrean Archipelago Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Foxtail barley is a native grass that produces distinctive, fluffy seed heads resembling foxtails from late spring through summer. This drought-tolerant perennial forms compact clumps and thrives in full sun with minimal water once established.

Growing Foxtail Barley

Grow Foxtail Barley in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Foxtail Barley takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Seed heads can appear weedy or unkempt to traditional gardeners
Annual nature means gaps in plantings each year
May self-seed aggressively in some conditions

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees and beetles during the blooming season. Seeds provide food for birds and small mammals.

Common questions

When does foxtail barley bloom?: Foxtail barley blooms from May through July, producing feathery, bristled seed heads that give the plant its common name.
What growing conditions does foxtail barley need?: It grows best in full sun with low water once established, and it tolerates poor, disturbed, or slightly saline soils.
What pollinators does foxtail barley attract?: As a wind-pollinated grass it does not rely heavily on insects, but bees and beetles have been observed visiting the plant.
Is foxtail barley a good choice for a lawn or pasture?: It is usually treated as an unwanted grass in lawns and pastures because its sharp, barbed awns can cause physical injury to grazing animals and pets.
Is Foxtail Barley HOA-friendly?: Foxtail Barley takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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