Foxtail (Hordeum jubatum) - How to Grow & Care Guide

Plant Snapshot

Common Name: Foxtail
Latin Name: Hordeum jubatum
Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 3–9. Cold hardy in cooler zones and capable of surviving winter. In warmer milder zones it may behave more like a short lived annual and spread more aggressively.
Typical Height: 12–36 in (30–90 cm)
Typical Spread: 12–24 in (30–60 cm) clump spread but may form dense stands by seed
Bloom Period: Late spring to early summer in the Northern Hemisphere (region dependent)
Soil Preferences: Prefers well drained sandy to loamy soils tolerates saline alkaline and low fertility sites. Poorly drained soils may lead to reduced vigor and crown issues.
Light Preferences: Full sun to light shade. Best flowering and seed head display in full sun.
Toxicity: Not known for chemical toxicity. Awns pose mechanical hazards to pets livestock and humans by embedding in skin mouth eyes and respiratory tracts causing injury and infection.
Propagation: Primarily propagated by seed. Readily self seeds and disperses by wind animals and human activity. No widespread vegetative spread.

Key Facts

Common name foxtail or foxtail barley
Tufted grass with soft bottlebrush seed heads and long, twisted awns
Reproduces primarily by seed and self seeds readily
Tolerant of saline and alkaline soils and poor fertility
Prefers well drained sites and full sun
Awns are a mechanical hazard to pets and livestock rather than a systemic toxin
Often found in disturbed sites roadsides and fields
Can act as a short lived perennial or annual depending on climate

Foxtail Hordeum jubatum is a tufted grass with soft bottlebrush seed heads and long twisted awns. It is useful for low fertility sunny sites but spreads readily by seed and its awns can injure pets and livestock.

Identification

Foxtail forms upright tufts that typically reach 12 to 36 inches tall with seed heads that look like soft bottlebrushes and carry long twisted awns. Clumps usually spread about 12 to 24 inches but dense patches develop from prolific self seeding. Flowering and seed head development occur in late spring to early summer depending on climate.

Where to grow Foxtail Best Uses

It thrives in full sun and tolerates light shade. Foxtail prefers well drained sandy to loamy soils and withstands saline alkaline and low fertility sites. Use it to naturalize sunny margins poor soil banks or disturbed ground where a short lived perennial or annual grass is acceptable. Avoid planting near areas where dogs cats or livestock graze because awns are a mechanical hazard.

Planting and care

Foxtail reproduces primarily by seed and self seeds readily. Space plants about 12 to 24 inches apart to allow each tuft room to develop and to reduce early crowding. It performs on dry sites and needs good drainage. Poorly drained soils reduce vigor and can cause crown problems.

After flowering remove or cut seed heads before they mature to limit spread. Mowing or hand removal of seedlings can help control local patches. If you want it to naturalize allow some seed heads to remain but monitor for unwanted colonization.

Controlling spread and safety

The main management concern is seed production. Removing flowerheads before seeds mature prevents new patches. Keep it out of pastures and pet runs to reduce the risk of awns embedding in skin mouth or eyes which can lead to infection. Check local extension guidance for regional invasive status before planting.

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Foxtail grow?: Foxtail commonly reaches about 12 to 36 inches in a single season and spreads quickly by seed to form dense patches if allowed to set seed.
Is Foxtail poisonous to dogs and livestock?: It is not known for chemical toxicity. The awns can embed in skin mouth eyes and respiratory tracts and cause injury or infection.
Is Foxtail invasive?: It readily colonizes disturbed sites and can act as a locally aggressive self seeding grass. Control focuses on preventing seed set.
What soil does Foxtail prefer?: Well drained sandy to loamy soils. It tolerates saline alkaline conditions and low fertility.
How do I stop Foxtail from spreading?: Remove or mow flowerheads before seeds mature and pull seedlings early. Prevent seeding near desirable plantings or animal areas.