Sea barley (Hordeum marinum)
Care, watering, light and tips for Sea barley on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Poaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Sea barley
Hordeum marinum, commonly known as sea barley or strand barley, is a low-growing annual or perennial grass that forms dense clumps. Its distinctive and attractive spikes, ranging from pale green to golden, are ideal for a naturalistic garden, xeriscaping, or for stabilizing coastal dunes. It adds fine texture and graceful movement in the breeze.
Native range
Mediterranean region, Europe and Western Asia.
Care tips
This species thrives in full sun and tolerates poor, sandy, or saline soils, provided they have good drainage. It is extremely drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal, if any, watering in arid climates. Avoid overwatering, as it is susceptible to root rot in consistently wet conditions. It requires no fertilization and can be sown directly in autumn or spring.