Wall Barley
Hordeum murinum
Also listed as Critesion murinum, Triticum murale
Also known as Mouse Barley, Way Barley, Barley Grass
Climate Match for your location
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Wall barley is a cool-season annual grass with distinctive awned seed heads that often clings to clothing and fur. It is commonly found in disturbed areas and is considered a weed in many regions.
Why grow it
Wall barley serves as a pioneer species that quickly colonizes disturbed, compacted, or marginal soils where other grasses struggle to establish. It is more cold-hardy than many annual grasses and requires minimal fertility or management once established, making it useful for temporary ground cover or erosion control on poor sites. Compared to cultivated barley varieties, wall barley is hardier but produces minimal grain and is better suited to ecological roles than food production.
Watch out for
Wall barley thrives in poor, compacted soils where other plants struggle, so it may outcompete desirable species in neglected garden areas. The barbed awns can irritate skin and eyes during handling, and may cause discomfort to pets. If you're using this plant intentionally (for erosion control or pioneer planting), be prepared to manage its self-seeding habit, as volunteer plants will readily establish in the following season.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Poaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Wall barley is a cool-season annual grass with distinctive awned seed heads that often clings to clothing and fur. It is commonly found in disturbed areas and is considered a weed in many regions.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Wall Barley grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Wall barley serves as a pioneer species that quickly colonizes disturbed, compacted, or marginal soils where other grasses struggle to establish. It is more cold-hardy than many annual grasses and requires minimal fertility or management once established, making it useful for temporary ground cover or erosion control on poor sites. Compared to cultivated barley varieties, wall barley is hardier but produces minimal grain and is better suited to ecological roles than food production.
Watch out for
Wall barley thrives in poor, compacted soils where other plants struggle, so it may outcompete desirable species in neglected garden areas. The barbed awns can irritate skin and eyes during handling, and may cause discomfort to pets. If you're using this plant intentionally (for erosion control or pioneer planting), be prepared to manage its self-seeding habit, as volunteer plants will readily establish in the following season.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Poaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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