Mexican Feather Grass

Stipa tenuissima | Also known as: Needle Grass, Nassella tenuissima, Stipa tenuifolia | Rating: 8 votes | Print / Pdf

Feathery grass that doesn't need to be mown every week.

Another type of feather grass that adds an elegant touch to a garden, Stipa tenuissima boasts a notably carefree and highly attractive wispiness. In fact, it is for this light-as-air movement that feather grass is so popular. A deciduous option, it has fine, needle-like but gently arching foliage with a plume of pale green blossom on top. Its foliage turns from a light green in summer to a golden yellow in autumn. Known as Mexican Feather Grass, it thrives in well-drained soils but can be found in sandy soils near beaches. It is perfect as a central feature, or in beds and borders.

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Plant
Known dangers?
  • no
Height [m]
  • 0.6
Spread [m]
  • 0.3
Dominant flower colour
  • Green
Flower Fragrance
  • No, neutral please
Flowering seasons
  • Early summer
  • Mid summer
  • Late summer
Foliage in summer
  • Green
Foliage in Autumn
  • Green
Propagation methods
  • seed
  • division
Growth habit
  • Arching
  • Dense
  • Tufted
Environment
Acidity
  • Acidic
  • Neutral
  • Alkaline
Hardiness zone
  • Z7-11
Heat zone
  • H12-7
Winter temperatures [°C]
  • -18 - 4
Heat days
  • 60 - 210
Moisture
  • well-drained
  • well-drained but frequently watered
Soil type
  • sandy
  • Clay
  • chalky
  • loams
Sun requirements
  • Full sun
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered
Usage
Standard category
  • Grasses, ferns & bamboo
  • Grasses
Grown for
  • Attractive flowers and habit
Creative category
  • For Beginners
Garden type
  • Woodland
  • Cottage garden
  • City
Garden spaces
  • Flower beds
  • Architectural
  • Borders
Gardening expertise
  • beginner
Time to reach full size
  • 2 to 5 years
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