Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum
Foxtail barley, squirreltail barley, Squirreltail Barley
Jim Morefield (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum (Foxtail barley) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by distinctive foxtail inflorescence with very long bristle-like glumes.
Foxtail barley is a native perennial grass found in California in roadsides, disturbed areas, meadows, and marshes at elevations of 20 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white-green to light purple flowers in dense, bristly inflorescences 3 to 15 centimeters long. Growing with stems 20 to 80 centimeters tall that are densely tufted and bent at the base, it forms distinctive clumps with graceful, arching characteristics. Its leaves are narrow, less than 5 millimeters wide, extending to 15 centimeters in length and ranging from scabrous to short-hairy. The plant is particularly notable for its long, divergent awns that can reach up to 90 millimeters, giving the seedheads a soft, feathery appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; distinctive foxtail inflorescence with very long bristle-like glumes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas, meadows, marshes
Elevation: 20-3500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Modoc, Trinity, San Diego, Alpine, El Dorado
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern United States, Mexico, eastern Siberia
Bloom period
Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Bromus: Hordeum has three spikelets per node in a spike; Bromus has separate spikelets in loose clusters.; vs Triticum: Hordeum has three spikelets per node; Triticum has one spikelet per node.; vs Taeniatherum: Hordeum has the central spikelet stalkless; check if side spikelets are stalked.; vs Setaria: Hordeum has three grouped spikelets per node; Setaria has dense bristly single spikelets.; vs Elymus: Hordeum has hollow stems; Elymus has solid stems between nodes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum native to California?
Yes. Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum bloom?
Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum grow?
Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Modoc, Trinity, San Diego, Alpine, El Dorado, at elevations of 20-3500 m.
What plant family does Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum belong to?
Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum is in the Poaceae family, genus Hordeum.
What habitat does Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum grow in?
Hordeum jubatum subsp. jubatum grows in Roadsides, disturbed areas, meadows, marshes.
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.