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| ## meadow barley {#meadow-barley .Title-Header}                       |
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| *Hordeum brachyantherum* Nevski                                       |
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| Plant Symbol = HOBR2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

There are two subspecies: *H. brachyantherum* ssp. *brachyantherum* and
ssp. *californicum*, the latter referred to as California barley.
Another name is little barley. This species can hybridize with certain
*Hordeum* and *Elymus* (wildrye) species.

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Because of its high seedling vigor, wide soil tolerances, and rapid
development, meadow barley is often used as a quick cover for soil
stabilization on wet, dry, and saline sites. It is sometimes used for
forage where locally abundant, but resource value may be rated low to
moderate for livestock. The value for deer is considered high in spring.
Palatability for ungulates is moderately good early on but poor at
maturity. Sown at lower rates to allow other species to establish,
meadow barley is an important component of freshwater wetland, tidal
marsh, meadow, and riparian seed mixtures for restoration and
revegetation. In certain trials, meadow barley has shown higher
potential to impede the progress of reed canarygrass compared to several
other native wetland grasses. It is regarded useful as a temporary nurse
crop for longer lived species on dry, infertile sites. The species is
occasionally used as a vineyard cover crop in California. Plants provide
wildlife cover and the leaves and large seed may be of some value to
small mammals and
waterfowl.![](media/image3.jpeg){width="2.3958333333333335in"
height="3.95in"}

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Description and Adaptation {#description-and-adaptation .Header-3}

Meadow barley is a native, short to medium lived, cool season, perennial
bunchgrass. This species occurs primarily from Alaska to California and
east to the Rocky Mountains. It can also be found sporadically in other
states. Growth habit is an open tuft with erect to slightly spreading,
smooth stalks (culms) that are 40 to 105 cm tall. The flower head
(panicle) is a narrow, flattened spike, 5 to 10 cm long with
bristle-like awns and a brittle central axis (rachis) that breaks off in
pieces from the top down at maturity. Leaves are green to bluish green,
2 to 9 mm wide. They may be primarily basal or extend up and down the
stem.

*Key to identification:* The flower heads are bristly and often purplish
in color, becoming stubby at maturity which distinguishes it from
timothy (*Phleum pretense*), meadow foxtail (*Alopecuris pratensis*), or
other grasses with narrow spikes. It resembles common barley (*Hordeum
vulgare*) which is an annual usually confined to cultivated areas.
Meadow barley is upright, while its closest relative, California barley,
is shorter and more spreading.

*Relative abundance in the wild:* Meadow barley is common to sporadic in
moist meadows and clearings. It is most abundant in maritime
environments. Seed shatters (drops) readily requiring careful monitoring
of maturity and multiple collections.

*Adaptation:* Meadow barley is moderately drought tolerant but best
adapted to moist soils, including bottom lands, depressions, meadows,
the edges of streams and salt marshes, forest clearings, and ocean
beaches from sea level to subalpine elevations. It is tolerant to
moderately alkaline and saline conditions, as well as low fertility,
seasonally saturated soils, and intermittent flooding. Soil texture can
vary from coarse sand to clay. This species prefers full sun. This
species can produce a seed crop the first year if sown in late fall or
early spring. This is among the more broadly adapted and easier to
establish of all native grasses in the western US.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.667361111111111in"
height="3.1944444444444446in"}

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

There is usually no seed dormancy and meadow barley is easy to establish
by sowing in the fall or early spring. The awns and nonviable florets
(flower structures) attached to each spikelet should be removed to
reduce bulk and allow for seed to flow through planting equipment. The
number of seeds per pound can vary widely, depending on the degree of
seed conditioning. Bulky seed can range from 30,000 to 100,000 seeds/lb,
while highly processed seed will have approximately 150,000 seeds/lb
(+/- 30%). The latter will result in 3 to 4 seeds per square foot for
each lb applied per acre. Suggested seeding rates vary from 8 to 40
lbs/ac when sown alone, depending on seed size, methods, site
conditions, and purpose of planting.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Meadow barley can be an increaser or decreaser under heavy grazing,
depending on the palatability of other plants present. Forage value is
moderately good early on but poor at maturity. Livestock are likely to
cause soil compaction on moist sites with fine textured soils where this
species often thrives. Short-lived especially under drier conditions,
regeneration may rely on a period of deferred grazing during flowering
and seed set every few years. The species is easily eliminated by close
mowing early in the growing season. It stays green all summer if
moisture is present and is capable of producing a second flush of seed
heads later in summer. Tolerance to prescribed burning is high. Specific
management practices apply to cover crop use, particularly in vineyards.
Under cultivation for seed, several harvests may be required to capture
seed that matures unevenly and shatters easily.

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

Awns on the spikelets readily attach to hair and skin. Apparently they
can harm certain animals by working into noses, mouths, or intestines.
Others indicate little injury to livestock or deer that graze the
foliage. Certain meadow barley populations are susceptible to fungal
diseases, particularly head smut and leaf or stem rust. Fungicides may
be needed for control. Consult with your local Extension Service agent,
plant disease control handbook, or other experts for advice. The species
has potential to be weedy under certain conditions and is listed as a
weed in cotton.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

Multiple sources of seed are readily available in California, as are
several in Oregon. A limited number of seed sources from other regions
are also available for use in certain western states.

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

*Dale Darris*, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Dale Darris*, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

##### Edited: 21mar2006 jsp, 16sept2008 dcd; 080917 jsp {#edited-21mar2006-jsp-16sept2008-dcd-080917-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
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Read about [*Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Conservation
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