Stipa feather grass info learn how to grow mexican. Do you want to create a beautiful garden, urban prairie or wildscape, but dont know how. Synonyms nassella tenuissima nassella tenuissima pony tails. Photo by stephanie falzone mexican feathergrass stipa nassella tenuissima this plant is invasive in the following regions. No other grass exhibits quite the refinement of texture as this species. Plants provide cut flowers and erosion control to deer resistant plantings, low maintenance. One of these new grasses is mexican feather grass, a lowgrowing, graceful mound of a plant well suited for low maintenance gardening.
It may turn brown in the heat of summer, but remains green during winter. Poaceae, also known as nassella tussock, is an invasive south american weedy. It reseeds to naturalize in meadows or on slopes for erosion control. With our safe free shipping, low prices, larger plants and expert planting advice youll be growing pony tails grass like the pros. Nasella tenuissima is a handsome groundcover that brightens containers or sunny meadows. The feathery texture and lightly drooping stems of ponytail grass nassella tenuissima, sometimes called mexican feather grass, gives this foliage plant the appearance. Find pony tails mexican feather grass stipa tenuissima pony tails in richmond fairfax loudoun prince william fredericks virginia va at meadows farms nurseries texas needle grass, nassella tenuissima. The slightest wind sends the delicate flower heads and thin leaves of this perennial grass into motion. Flowers bloom a greenish color in summer to late fall and then mature to a golden color. Stipa tenuissima mexican feather grass is an exceptionally lovely and graceful ornamental grass which exhibits silverygreen threadlike leaves in late spring, that sway gracefully in the slightest breeze, delicately softening any landscapes.
Ponytail grass nassella tenuissima, stipa tenuissima. Nassella tenuissima mexican feather grass wispy finetextured clumping grass from southwest u. Due to its small size, plants also add beautiful texture to container plantings. The species is sometimes used as an accent, edging or mass planting. Stipa tenuissima pony tails ornamental grass perennial garden plant 9cm pot. Nassella tenuissima formertly stipa tenuissima mexican.
Nassella tenuissima, nassella trichotoma, nassella tussock, new zealand. You can pinch back the young shoots in june for denser habit and more flowers, but it is not essential. Brown plumes appear on the mexican feather grass during the summer months. Mexican feather grass monrovia mexican feather grass. Nasella tenuissima prospers in sunny or lightly shaded sites with fertile well drained soil. Nassella tenuissima mexican feather grass information. It is an excellent xeric companion plant and is particularly nice when planted with agave, agastache and gray artemisia. Mexican feather grass nassella or stipa tenuissima is a wildly popular ornamental grass used by home gardeners and landscape design professionals. Botanically, stipa feather grass is referred to as nassella tenuissima, formerly stipa tenuissima. Without knowing exactly under what conditions your nassella tenuissima.
Mexican feather grass nassella formerly stipa tenuissima. Native to north american drylands, mexican feather grass thrives in quickdraining, lean soil and tolerates drought with ease. Jan 4, 2017 stipa tenuissima pony tails ornamental grass perennial more. It is a low water, low maintenance plant and is great used as a. Perfectly clean foliage makes for easy maintenance in production and in the landscape. Mexican feather grass nassella or stipa tenuissima brims with grace. Native to texas and mexico, this grass has very fine green foliage which is extremely delicate and soft in appearance. If your style is contemporary then this garden will suit. It is a clumping grass that grows to 18 tall and 12 wide in one season, then slowly spreads outward to reach 30 wide and up to 24 tall. Mexican feather grass is a fast growing and small ornamental grass that is a great choice for median plantings, xeriscape landscapes and rock gardens. Mexican feather grass nassella tenuissima does not need annual pruning. Ornamental drought tolerant grass plants pennisetum low maintenance.
In regions experiencing drought, native and ornamental grasses are a smart and showstopping part of the landscape. Commonly known as mexican feather grass, its ponytail flowers appear in summer, capping the foliage with long awns that shimmer in slanting light. Very finely textured, limegreen foliage with light tan seed heads emerging in may, this native grass is beautiful naturalized in meadows, planted on slopes for erosion, as a specimen in a rock garden or as an element in mixed container plantings. Problems with mexican feathergrass in austin houston. Browse pictures and read growth cultivation information about nassella species, silky thread grass, mexican feather grass, mexican needle grass, pony tails stipa tenuissima supplied by member g.
Staking is helpful by late summer if you forget to pinch. It is usually considered segregate from the genus stipa and includes many new world species formerly classified in that genus. An invasive plant is an introduced species that outcompetes native plants and wildlife for. Mexican feather grass stipa tenuissima inaturalist. It goes by several common names like mexican feather grass, silky thread grass, and the aforementioned pony tail grass. Mexican feather grass has a clumping habit so it works very well in mass plantings. Growing in dense fountainlike clumps, it is a wonderful plant for xeriscapes. Its decorative and lowmaintenance so you cant really go. Mexican feather grass is the most finetextured grass we grow. Stipa grass is also known as nassella, stipa feather grass, mexican feather grass, or texas needle grass.
Backyard landscaping a home gardeners tips to low maintenance landscaping diy landscape backyard garden landscaping slope drought tolerant new ideas mexican feather grass or mexican needle grass nassella tenuissima zones 7 11 nasella tenuissima high line substitute with sporobolus heterolepis see more. All summer it bears a profusion of feathery panicles, which mature from foamygreen to. The latin word nassa refers to a basket with a narrow neck. Recently renamed nassella tenuissima it is a neat, compact, perennial grass, this has lots of closepacked, stiff, threadlike stems forming a strongly horizontal shape. Readily reseeds to naturalize in meadows or on slopes. Comparison of management strategies for controlling nassella trichotoma in. Nassella tenuissima is a species of grass known by the common names mexican feathergrass, finestem needlegrass, fineleaved nassella, and argentine.
Mexican feather grass nassella tenuissima control the act experience. Pdf 10 years after victorias major mexican feather grass incursion. Nassella tenuissima mexican feather grass from new moon. The transmission of serrated tussock nassella trichotoma seeds through the sheep rumen and their viability after ingestion. Nassella, or needlegrass, is a new world genus of over 100 perennial bunchgrasses found from north america through south america. Mexican feather grass is a north american native grass that is low maintenance.
Plants provide cut flowers and erosion control to deer resistant plantings, low maintenance gardens, perennial borders or rock gardens. Mexican feather grass is loved for its graceful, delicate and fine texture it grows out in a cascade like a beautiful fountain. Lady bird johnson wildflower center focused on protecting and preserving north americas native plants through native plant lists and image galleries, conservation, education, natural landscapes, seed collection millennium seed bank msb project, preserving and restoring native communities, spreading awareness on invasive species and gardening to attract wildlife. Nassella species, silky thread grass, mexican feather. Stipa tenuissima mexican feather grassrhs gardening. Ornamental grasses are fairly new to the landscape scenetheyve increased in popularity in the past couple decades. Mexican feather grass nassella tenuissima from saunders. Its bright green foliage resembles delicate filaments that arise in elegant, vaselike clumps and spill outward like a soft fountain. Nassella tenuissima buy mexican feather grass online. Combine with sedums and asters or tuck into a rock garden. It gently sways in the breeze and its silky seed heads glow brightly when they catch the sunlight. Nassella tenuissima formertly stipa tenuissima mexican feather grass walking through the sunset park district of santa monica one discovers plants like this.
Also known as mexican feather grass, pony tails grass is a delicate looking but tough and drought tolerant plant with graceful foliage and airy flower heads that provide a unique, soft texture in the landscape or garden. Mexican feather grass, nassella tenuissima, requires occasional watering until established which is generally one year. Delicate and graceful leaves and airy flower heads sway gently with the slightest breeze. See more ideas about outdoor gardens, garden design and ornamental grasses. Backyard landscaping a home gardeners tips to low maintenance landscaping diy landscape backyard garden landscaping slope drought tolerant new ideas mexican feather grass or mexican needle grass nassella tenuissima zones 7 11 nasella tenuissima high line. Distribution of mexican feather grass nassella tenuissima in mexico missouri botanical gardens w3 tropicos database. Proven winners mexican feather grass nassella formerly stipa tenuissima white plant details, information and resources. It selfsows just about everywhere, and especially in cracks in roads and sidewalks, making it a high maintenance. Aster laevis is a great source of nectar for migrating monarchs and other late season butterflies. Toward autumn, the flowers turn a warm wheat color, adding interest to.
Best in full sun to partial shade with welldrained soil. Mexican feather grass nassella tenuissima from taylors. Plant database lady bird johnson wildflower center. Mexican feather grass nassella tenuissima control the act. All summer, it bears abundant feathery panicles, which are held a little above the foliage and can be used in dried arrangements. Buy pony tails mexican feather grass stipa tenuissima. Mexican feather grass 20 drought tolerant plants for your low maintenance garden mexican feather grass or mexican needle grass nassella tenuissima zones 7 11 mexican feather grass photo from the high line, new york, ny piet oudolf mexican feather grass integrated into a lovey matrix of other perennials on the high line in nyc. An excellent choice for a grass when planted in dry areas. This billowy, low maintenance grass softens the look of landscapes and gardens, its slender green, hairlike leaves blowing in the breeze and adding motion to borders and beds. Mexican feather grass is a graceful short growing ornamental grass. The cemetary in junction has minimal maintenance available and, of. Many front yards display nontraditional, diverse and waterwise plantings that adapt well to the arid conditions of southern california. Mexican feather grass is a really fun grass to use in the landscape because of its beautiful in even the slightest breeze. Buy pony tails mexican feather grass free shipping.
Download our availability and order form for pricing, whats in stock, and future availability. Nassella stipa tenuissima mexican feather grass, texas needle grass is native to the soutwestern united states. In summer, plants are covered with masses of elegant pale feathery seedheads which are held a little above the foliage. Pdf mexican feather grass nassella tenuissima trin. In argentina, it grows in the central, western, southern and northwestern regions, extending from about 26. Delicate blades offer an attractive windblown look. Molecular markers for nassella trichotoma poaceae to study. Nassella tenuissima is a species of grass known by the common names mexican feathergrass, finestem needlegrass, fineleaved nassella, and argentine needlegrass. Nassella stipa tenuissima mexican feather grass, texas. As of 2011, the jepson manual includes nassella within stipa. Pony tails mexican feather grass stipa tenuissima pony. Mexican feather grass, nassella tenuissima, is very tough, droughttolerant, and highly reproductive grass native to parts of texas, new mexico and mexico. We make choosing the right plant for north texas easy.
Stipa tenuissima pony tails ornamental grass perennial. Ponytail grass nassella tenuissima is a great ornamental grass to choose for many gardens. Interested in learning how to grow mexican feather grass. To make matters worse, the australian quarantine and inspection service aqis had listed stipa species as permitted imports, whereas. As more grasses are introduced from other parts of the world that share similar climates, landscape professionals arent always in agreement on how to handle. Mexican feather grass nassella tenuissima is a 1 to 2foot tall perennial bunch grass that grows like a cascading fountain. Mexican feather grass is a graceful and delicate very fine textured ornamental grass. It is wellmatched to climate in australia and can be harmful to the australian environment. Stipa tenuissima is a great example of a grass that is native to one part of the. The green color variations soften any garden or landscape areas. The wiry, slender, hairlike leaves are green and silky in the spring and buff. It is native to the southwestern united states, northern mexico and argentina.