Is this a good lawn grass?

No, it is considered a weed and its sharp seed heads are dangerous to pets and bare feet.

How do I get rid of it?

Pull it before it sets seed to prevent further spread.

Plant guide

Wall barley.

Hordeum murinum

Pronounced HOR-dee-um myoo-RYE-num

Also known as False Barley, Farmer's-foxtail, Mouse barley, Smooth Barley, Wall Barley

Hordeum murinum — Photo by Piermario Maculan (CC0) via gbif

Wall barley is a hardy, annual grass often found in disturbed soils and along roadsides. It is a common sight in temperate regions, where it grows quickly during the cooler months. You will often see its distinctive, bristly seed heads swaying in the breeze.

Another photo of wall barley — Photo by zebedeugalinha (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual grass
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 12 to 24 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

This grass is very self-sufficient and thrives in most soil conditions without human intervention. Keep an eye on the seed heads, as they can become a nuisance if they spread into unwanted areas. It prefers plenty of sun and does not require extra pampering.

Watering: It is quite drought tolerant once established and rarely needs supplemental water.
Feeding: Fertilizer is not necessary for this wild grass.
Pruning: You can trim it back if you want to prevent it from dropping seeds.
Repotting: This plant is typically grown in the ground and not suited for containers.
Soil: Well-draining, disturbed soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -15 to 35°C
Humidity: 20 to 60%

Safety

People: The plant is not toxic, but the physical structure of the seed heads poses a significant mechanical injury risk.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non-toxic, but the sharp awns can cause physical irritation to pets if ingested or stuck in fur.
Children: Keep children away from the mature seed heads as the sharp, barbed awns can easily penetrate skin or cause injury if touched.
Contact allergens: The stiff hairs on the leaves and seed heads can cause skin irritation.
Airborne allergens: The windborne pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: The mature seed heads have sharp, barbed awns that can cause severe injury to the mouth and throat if ingested.

How to identify it

flat, light green leaf blades
dense, bristly spike inflorescence
long, rough awns on spikelets
grows in loose, tufted clumps

Height: 0.1 to 0.4m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.2m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: green, tan, 2 to 8cm
Fruit: tan, Summer

Problems to watch for

Rust · Fungal infection causing orange or brown pustules on leaves.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your wall barley from a photo

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: autumn, spring

This plant is best suited for wild meadow areas rather than formal garden beds.

Grows well with

Common Poppy · They often grow together in disturbed, sunny meadows.
Cornflower · Both species thrive in similar sunny, open conditions.

Similar species

Foxtail Barley · It has a similar appearance but with much longer, showier awns.

Science

Family: Poaceae
Genus: Hordeum
Order: Poales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.
Conservation: None, it is considered a widespread and often invasive weed in many regions.

It is a ruderal species that quickly colonizes disturbed ground and waste areas.

Value to wildlife: larval host plant, seed source for birds
Pollinators: bees
Uses: ornamental in wild gardens, erosion control, wildlife habitat

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this a good lawn grass?: No, it is considered a weed and its sharp seed heads are dangerous to pets and bare feet.
How do I get rid of it?: Pull it before it sets seed to prevent further spread.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Hordeum is the Latin word for barley, while the species name murinum means of mice, referring to its small size.

Good to know

It is commonly known as wall barley.
The seeds are designed to attach to animal fur for dispersal.
It thrives in nitrogen rich soils.

Keep your wall barley growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.