Barley – Meadow

Meadow Barley is a rapidly developing, highly tolerant, perennial that grows throughout much of North America. It can abide soil with higher saline concentration and is often found in salt marshes, along coastal beaches, stream banks, meadows and grassy slopes. It will germinate and grow in full sun at elevations ranging from sea level to subalpine. At best it is rated as a moderate forage grass and is typically only used where it is found in profusion. Meadow Barley is best for livestock, if it is grazed early in its growing cycle, because when it reaches maturity it is not highly palatable. It is frequently used as fast-establishing ground cover to stabilize barren landscapes that are threatened with erosion issues. Seed mixtures used for ecosystem rehabilitation often include Meadow Barely and planting it sparingly will allow for the establishment of other species of grass in the same area. The soil that Meadow Barley is planted in can be either coarse or fine. The extent to which Meadow Barley is processed will affect the size of the final cleaned seed and thus affect the number of seeds contained in each pound.

Here is a pdf link to the USDA Native Plant Database data sheet on Meadow Barley: MEADOW BARLEY (usda.gov)