Mediterranean Barley: An Unassuming Annual Grass Worth Knowing
If you’ve ever wandered through coastal areas or disturbed soils in the western United States, you might have encountered a modest little grass called Mediterranean barley (Hordeum marinum gussoneanum) without even knowing it. This annual graminoid isn’t exactly what you’d call a garden showstopper, but it has quietly made itself at home across much of North America since its introduction from the Mediterranean region.
What Is Mediterranean Barley?
Mediterranean barley is a small annual grass that belongs to the same family as the barley we use for brewing beer and baking bread. Don’t get too excited though – this wild cousin isn’t headed for your breakfast table anytime soon. As a graminoid, it’s part of that diverse group of grass-like plants that includes true grasses, sedges, and rushes.
This plant goes by several scientific names depending on which botanist you ask, including Critesion marinum and Hordeum hystrix, among others. But regardless of what you call it, you’re looking at the same unassuming little grass.
Where You’ll Find It
As a non-native species, Mediterranean barley has established itself across a surprisingly wide range of North American locations. You can find it growing wild in fifteen states, from the Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) all the way to the East Coast (Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania), and plenty of places in between including Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and even Illinois and Ohio. It’s also made its way north into British Columbia.
- Species observed
- No observations
Should You Plant Mediterranean Barley?
Here’s where things get interesting. Mediterranean barley isn’t typically sold at garden centers, and there’s a good reason for that – it’s not really a ornamental plant. While it’s not currently listed as invasive or noxious, its non-native status means it’s not contributing to local ecosystems the way native plants do.
If you’re looking for the ecological benefits that come with native plantings – supporting local wildlife, providing habitat for beneficial insects, and maintaining regional biodiversity – you’d be better served by choosing native grass alternatives.
Native Alternatives to Consider
Instead of Mediterranean barley, consider these native grass options that will better support your local ecosystem:
- Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) for western regions
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) for prairie-style landscapes
- Buffalo grass (Poaceae dactyloides) for drought-tolerant lawns
- Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) for larger landscape applications
If You Encounter It in the Wild
Mediterranean barley thrives in disturbed soils and can tolerate drought conditions quite well – traits that helped it spread so successfully after its introduction. As an annual, it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season, producing seeds that ensure the next generation.
While this grass isn’t causing major ecological disruption like some invasive species, it’s also not providing the specialized benefits that co-evolved native plants offer to local wildlife and pollinators. Since it’s wind-pollinated rather than insect-pollinated, it doesn’t support our struggling pollinator populations either.
The Bottom Line
Mediterranean barley is one of those plants that exists quietly in the background of our landscapes – not particularly harmful, but not particularly beneficial either when it comes to supporting native ecosystems. If you’re passionate about native gardening and creating habitat for local wildlife, your efforts are better invested in native grass species that have been supporting North American ecosystems for thousands of years.
While Mediterranean barley might persist in disturbed areas around your property, intentionally cultivating native alternatives will give you a more meaningful connection to your local landscape and provide genuine ecological benefits that this introduced species simply can’t match.