# Foxtail Barley (*Hordeum jubatum*) Foxtail Barley is a tall grass with fluffy seed heads that look like little tails! It grows in fields and along roadsides, waving gently in the breeze. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Hare Barley, Squirrel Tail Grass ![Foxtail Barley](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425906/objects/2814.jpg) ## Appearance The Foxtail Barley has soft, bristly seed heads that look like miniature fox tails, turning from green to beautiful shades of purple or reddish-brown as they mature. Its slender, upright stems make it stand out among other grasses, especially when its fluffy tops catch the light. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Poaceae - **Genus:** Hordeum ## Interesting facts - Animals can accidentally spread its seeds just by walking by! - Foxtail Barley makes beautiful waving fields when the wind blows! - Its fluffy seed heads look soft but hide tiny, sharp barbs! - These plants love to grow near roads where salt is often used! ## Special abilities - **Salt Survivor:** Foxtail Barley can grow in salty soils where many other plants struggle, allowing it to thrive in tough coastal or roadside spots. - **Quick Colonizer:** Foxtail Barley has rapid growth and produces many seeds, helping it quickly take over disturbed or bare patches of ground. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-70 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Can eat young plants before seed heads develop. - **Eaten by:** [Horse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse) (*Equus caballus*) — May graze on early growth, but awns are harmful later. - **Eats:** [Song Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/song-sparrow) (*Melospiza melodia*) — Feeds on the developing seeds. - **Eats:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Eats leaves and stems, especially new growth. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to touch the sharp edges of the grass. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Foxtail Barley? Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Foxtail Barley? 30-70 cm ### How wide does Foxtail Barley spread? 15-30 cm ### When does Foxtail Barley bloom? Summer ### Is Foxtail Barley edible? No ### Is Foxtail Barley toxic? Mild ### What is Foxtail Barley's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Foxtail Barley pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Black Hawk State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-hawk-state-historic-site) — Illinois, US · Park - [Chicken Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chicken-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Dinosaur Ridge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dinosaur-ridge) — Colorado, US · Natural Landmark - [Falls Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/falls-park) — South Dakota, US · Park - [Ice Age Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ice-age-trail) — Wisconsin, US · National Park - [Parc Jean-Drapeau](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-jean-drapeau) — Quebec, CA · Park [View all places to see Foxtail Barley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/foxtail-barley) ## Watch - [Play video: Foxtail Barley](https://www.snappit.app/videos/foxtail-barley) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=A1DBmKPJYjQ) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Foxtail Barley: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/foxtail-barley)