# wall barley (*Hordeum murinum*) Wall barley is a grassy plant that grows in many places, often in gardens and along roads. It has long, slender leaves and produces tiny flowers that turn into seeds. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![wall barley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kruipertje_Hordeum_murinum_plant.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kruipertje_Hordeum_murinum_plant.jpg) ## Appearance The wall barley is a medium-sized grass with upright stems and distinctive, bristly seed heads. Its dense, paintbrush-like spikes are typically greenish-yellow, often tinged with purple, making them stand out against other grasses. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Poaceae - **Genus:** Hordeum ## Interesting facts - Its spiky seeds are a nightmare for dogs' paws and can stick to your socks! - Sometimes called 'foxtail' because its bristly head looks like a tiny fox's tail! - This common weed is a wild cousin of the barley grain used to make bread! - Wall barley is named for loving to grow in gaps in walls and pavements! ## Special abilities - **Velcro Seeds:** Wall barley has barbed awns that cling to fur and clothes, helping its seeds travel far and wide. - **Crack Conqueror:** This tough grass can grow in compacted soil and small cracks, where other plants struggle to survive. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — seeds provide a food source for sparrows - **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — young leaves and shoots are grazed by rabbits - **Eaten by:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — seeds are consumed by various small rodents ## 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. - [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. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify wall 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 wall barley? 10-60 cm ### How wide does wall barley spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on wall barley? 1-2 cm ### When does wall barley bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is wall barley edible? No ### Is wall barley toxic? None ### What is wall barley's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Burro Schmidt Tunnel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burro-schmidt-tunnel) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Bush's Pasture Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bushs-pasture-park) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/van-nuys-sherman-oaks-war-memorial-park) — California, US · Park - [Lake Washington Boulevard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-washington-boulevard) — Washington, US · Historic Site [View all places to see wall barley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wall-barley) ## 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: [Wall Barley: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wall-barley)