Hainardia cylindrica
Barbgrass
(c) D Defreese, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Hainardia cylindrica (Barbgrass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by Only Hainardia species in California, European salt marsh grass introduction.
Barbgrass is a naturalized annual grass found in coastal regions including northern Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, deltaic Great Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and Southern Coast at elevations below 570 meters in coastal salt marshes and alkaline soils. Flowering from March to July, this grass produces spike-like cylindrical flower clusters 8 to 20 centimeters long with stiff, straight formations. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with ascending to erect stems that are glabrous and branched, it develops flat, ribbed leaves 6 to 10 centimeters long that are 1 to 2 millimeters wide with scabrous upper surfaces. Its distinctive spike-like inflorescence features alternating, appressed spikelets that break apart at nodes, with upper glumes 5 to 7 millimeters long and thick, rigid margins. The fruit is small, measuring 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Only Hainardia species in California, European salt marsh grass introduction
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal salt marshes, alkaline soils
Elevation: < 570 m
California counties: Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Monterey, Humboldt, Amador, San Mateo, Riverside, Orange, Santa Barbara, Yuba, Solano, Butte, San Benito, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Glenn, Colusa, San Joaquin, Madera, Stanislaus, Napa, Calaveras, Yolo, Alameda, Santa Cruz
Outside California: Baja California, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, native to Europe
Bloom period
Hainardia cylindrica blooms Mar-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Festuca: Hainardia has solid stem segments; Festuca has hollow stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hainardia cylindrica native to California?
No. Hainardia cylindrica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Hainardia cylindrica bloom?
Hainardia cylindrica blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Hainardia cylindrica grow?
Hainardia cylindrica occurs in Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Monterey, Humboldt, Amador and other counties, at elevations of < 570 m.
What plant family does Hainardia cylindrica belong to?
Hainardia cylindrica is in the Poaceae family, genus Hainardia.
What habitat does Hainardia cylindrica grow in?
Hainardia cylindrica grows in Coastal salt marshes, alkaline soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.