Little Barley
Hordeumpusillum

Family: Poaceae (poh-AY-see-ee)
Genus: Hordeum (HOR-dee-um)
Species: pusillum (pus-ILL-um)

Category
Annuals
Ornamental Grasses and Bamboo

Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping

Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade

Foliage
Herbaceous

Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Chartreuse/Yellow

Height
under 6 in. (15 cm)
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)

Spacing
3-6 in. (7-15 cm)
6-9 in. (15-22 cm)

Hardiness
Not Applicable

Where to Grow

Danger
N/A

Bloom Color
Brown/Bronze
Cream/Tan
Silver/Gray
Inconspicuous/none

Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for drying and preserving

Bloom Size

Bloom Time
Mid Spring
Late Spring/Early Summer

Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive

Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)

Patent Information

Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season

Seed Collecting
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored