Hordeum pusillum, commonly known as little barley, is an annual grass that is native to a variety of habitats including prairies, open woodlands, and disturbed sites across most of the United States and southwestern Canada. It typically grows to a height of 6-16 inches and features flat, pubescent (hairy) leaves. The inflorescence is a spike that can be green or purplish, and the plant is known to flower from April to June. Little barley is adapted to a range of light conditions but prefers full sun. It is drought-tolerant and often found in dry, gravelly soils, making it well-suited to xeriscaping.

Little barley’s historical use by Native Americans as a food source is notable, with its grains being ground into flour or used to make mush or pinole. Today, it is not widely cultivated for food but may be of interest to those looking to grow native grasses or for educational purposes regarding indigenous agriculture. In cultivation, it requires minimal care, thriving in poor soils with little water once established. However, it can become weedy and suppress the growth of other grasses, making it potentially problematic in mixed grass settings. Control is typically achieved with herbicides, but careful management can prevent its spread.CC BY-SA 4.0