Chilean barley Plant Care
Hordeum chilense Roem. & Schult.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Hordeum chilense is a species of wild barley native to Chile and Argentina. A diploid, it is used or being explored for use in barley crop improvement due to its resistance to Zymoseptoria tritici septoria leaf blotch, its high seed yellow pigment content (YPC), and its cytoplasmic male sterility.
Every 3–5 days
Full sun
60–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Chilean barley?
Water Chilean barley every 3–5 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 60–75°F (16–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Chilean barley?
Chilean barley (Hordeum chilense) belongs to the Poaceae family within the Hordeum genus. Chilean barley is native to Chile and Argentina.
Chilean barley displays a tall, grassy growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 0.5 ft. Chilean barley produces small inconspicuous flowers in spikelets.
Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Chilean barley?
Hordeum chilense requires watering every 3–5 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–5 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Chilean barley Need?
Chilean barley thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Chilean barley Prefer?
Hordeum chilense grows best at temperatures of 60–75°F. Chilean barley prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Chilean barley?
Well-draining loamy soil with good fertility. Good drainage is essential for Chilean barley to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Chilean barley?
Feed Chilean barley every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Chilean barley?
Rarely needs repotting, best to grow in the ground. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Chilean barley?
Chilean barley can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to meadow barley plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Chilean barley Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Chilean barley, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Chilean barley?
Chilean barley is susceptible to aphids, grasshoppers, cutworms. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Chilean barley Need?
Chilean barley grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Chilean barley is native to Chile and Argentina. In cooler regions, grow Chilean barley as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Chilean barley is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Hordeum genus — compare its care with other Hordeum species on PlantoScan.
Hordeum is part of the Poaceae plant family — browse all Poaceae genera and species.
Chilean barley thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Hordeum Species
Other Hordeum species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Hordeum chilense Roem. & Schult., family Poaceae (first published in Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis [Roemer & Schultes] 2: 796. 1817 [Nov 1817]) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Chilean barley, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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