Poaceae
Medusahead-rye
Taeniatherum caput-medusae
Also known as Hordeum oligostachyum, Hordeum caput-medusae, Hordeum intermedium, Cuviera caput-medusae
Zones 5–9Sun Full SunWater ModerateCare Low
Native Plants · Annual-Grass · Drought-Resistant · Poor-Soil · Hardy · Weedy · Dry-Conditions · Mediterranean · Minimal-Care
Pet-safeBeginner-friendly
Currently out of stock everywhereStock updated 9/6/2026
Medusahead-rye is an extremely hardy annual grass that thrives in poor, dry soils. It requires minimal water and full sun exposure to flourish. Note that this species can be weedy and may not be suitable for formal garden settings.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 8 hours
- Watering
- Water sparingly, allow soil to dry completely between waterings · Every 10-14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- sandy loam
- Soil pH
- 7.5–8
- Temperature
- -10°F to 105°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 5a-9b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 2 ft
- Spread
- 8 in
- Spacing
- 4 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, California, Canary Is., Chile Central, Connecticut, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Idaho, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan
Sources: trefle, usda
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