Little Barley
Hordeum pusillum · Cool-season winter annual, C3
Grass Family
Poaceae, Subfamily Pooideae, Tribe Triticeae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass, Native Prairie Grass, Forage (early season)
Variety / Cultivar
Native species; no common commercial cultivars
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-9; avoids extreme heat by completing its life cycle by early summer.
About This Grass
A small, tufted winter annual reaching 4-15 inches. It features light green, fuzzy foliage and distinctive terminal spikes that resemble miniature heads of barley or wheat. As it matures in late spring, it turns a straw-yellow color and dies back.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are 2-5mm wide, flat, and relatively short. They are notably pubescent (hairy) on both sides and along the margins. Vernation is rolled; auricles are absent or very کوچک; ligule is short and membranous. Blade tips are pointed.
Root System
Shallow fibrous root system; does not produce rhizomes or stolons. Relies entirely on heavy seed production for yearly re-establishment.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America; distributed widely across the United States and Northern Mexico
Growth Habit
Bunch-type (clump-forming), erect to decumbent growth pattern
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; highly adaptable to various moisture levels but thrives in moist, disturbed soils. High drought tolerance in its mature (drying) phase.
Mowing & Maintenance
Maintenance is typically focused on control. Low mowing height can prevent some seed head formation, but it often sets seed below typical lawn mower heights. High maintenance for removal; low maintenance for survival.
Special Characteristics
Highly competitive in thin lawns during early spring. Its seed heads possess awns that can become embedded in the skin, paws, or ears of pets and livestock, causing irritation.
Ecological Information
Native to North America. Provides early spring forage for livestock and wildlife before other grasses emerge, though palatability drops sharply once seed heads appear. Often acts as a pioneer species in disturbed soils.