Barnyard Grass
Echinochloa crus-galli · Warm-season, Annual, C4
Grass Family
Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type (no specific cultivated varieties)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives across USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10 as a warm-season summer annual. Dies with the first hard frost.
About This Grass
An annual coarse grass growing from 20 to over 100 cm tall, often branching at the base. Leaf blades are flat, smooth, hairless, and bright green. The seed head is a dense panicle composed of several upright or nodding spikelets with prominent awns, often purplish or green.
Blade Characteristics
Blades are medium to coarse in width (6-15 mm), flat, with a smooth texture and sharp pointed tips. Vernation is rolled in the bud. Ligule is absent. Auricles are absent. The collar is continuous and pale green.
Root System
Fibrous root system, relatively shallow to moderately deep depending on soil moisture. Fast establishment from seed, high seed production, no significant thatch tendency.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Tropical and temperate Asia, widely naturalized globally in agricultural and disturbed soils
Growth Habit
Bunch-type, erect or ascending stems, spreading mainly by seed, no significant rhizomes or stolons
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for optimal growth. High water needs, commonly found in damp soils, wetlands, agricultural fields, and poorly drained turf. Low to moderate drought tolerance once established, preferring moist soils.
Mowing & Maintenance
High maintenance weed in turfgrass. Easily controlled by frequent low mowing, but can survive and produce seed heads close to the ground if neglected. Hand pulling or selective herbicides are often required.
Special Characteristics
High seed production, highly competitive in agricultural settings (especially rice and corn), poor wear tolerance compared to established turfgrasses, highly susceptible to frost, excellent colonizer of disturbed or wet soils.
Ecological Information
Introduced weed in many regions globally. Provides limited food for waterfowl and granivorous birds, but considered a severe agricultural weed in crop production. Can bioaccumulate certain heavy metals and aids in erosion control in disturbed wetlands.