Plant on a slope where late or early sun will backlight the glistening sprays. Dried stalks add a rustic touch to floral arrangements, and take dye well. H. jubatum, dubbed Squirreltail or Foxtail Barley, bears long, straight awns with a soft reddish tinge. They need full sun and a loose, well-drained soil. Sow seed in spring or autumn.
Barley tolerates heat and drought better than other cereal grains.
Pick heads while still green and hang them upside down to dry in airy shade. I needed to capture each plant's unique qualities in one to three sentences. I worked from notes provided by horticulturalists, and often conducted additional research as needed. Its branches grow crooked and drooping with age. Soft bluish-green needles turn golden in the fall.