Mexican feather grass

Mexican feather grass: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense, fine clump 40–50 cm tall and 30–40 cm wide, with arching stems.

Leaves

Thread-thin and rolled, fresh green; old leaves turn straw-coloured and stay in the clump.

Flowers

Fine, silky, arching plumes in June–August, silvery green at first, then blond.

Seed

Lots of small seeds with a fine bristle; they germinate readily in gravel and bare soil.

Lifespan

Short-lived: after 3–4 years the clump often goes bare or dies.

Flowering: June–August · Plants: April–May · Pruning: March–April and August

Why grow it?

• A soft, rippling clump that moves in every breath of wind.
• Silky, blond plumes from June into winter.
• Ideal for dry, sunny gravel gardens and for pots on a patio.
• Beautiful when backlit, in the morning and evening.
• Very drought-tolerant once established.

Mexican feather grass: where does it grow best?

• Full sun.
• Poor, very free-draining soil: sand or loam, neutral to chalky. Gravel is ideal.
• Dry: in wet, heavy soil it rots in winter.
• Plant 30–40 cm apart, in groups, or in a pot on a sunny patio.
• Keep it away from nature areas, verges and dry grassland, where it could seed itself unwanted.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry

Size

0.5 m tall, 0.4 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Globe thistle: Steel-blue globes rising above the soft plumes.
• Purpletop vervain: Small purple flower clusters on tall, thin stems that poke through the grass.
• Lavender: Purple and fragrant, in the same dry, sunny spot.
• Balkan clary: Blue-violet spikes in early summer, just as drought-tolerant.

Mexican feather grass: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant in April–May so it is well rooted before winter.
2. Loosen the soil and mix in coarse sand or gravel on heavier ground.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot, not deeper.
4. Plant 30–40 cm apart.
5. Water well after planting and in dry spells during the first weeks.
6. Mulch with gravel, not compost.

Care

Water

Only in dry spells during the first season. In a pot, water now and then in summer.

Feeding

Not needed; rich soil makes it floppy.

Combing out

In March–April, comb the dead stems out of the clump with spread, gloved fingers.

Seedlings

Weed out surplus seedlings while small; keep a few to replace old plants.

Seed heads

Cut off the plumes in August if you do not want seedlings.

Tip: Comb the clump out by hand in March–April instead of cutting it: it stays nicely rounded and the green heart starts growing again straight away.

Mexican feather grass: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April and August.

When: Do not cut it short: in March–April, comb out the dead stems by hand. In August you can cut off the plumes to limit self-seeding.

How:

• Put on gloves and run spread fingers through the clump: the dead, loose stems come out easily.
• Only trim brown leaf tips; leave the green heart.
• If you do not want seedlings, cut off the plumes in August as soon as they turn blond.
• Cutting it down to the ground weakens this plant; it often recovers poorly.

Caution: It self-seeds freely: weed out seedlings in time and keep it away from nature areas.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

It self-seeds. Move young seedlings in April–May, or sow ripe seed in a pot of sandy compost.

Division

Works poorly on older clumps; young seedlings are a better choice.

Mexican feather grass: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −15 °C: protect young plants.

• Hardy to about −15 °C: no problem in most Belgian winters.
• Wet soil is the biggest risk: in heavy, wet soil it rots. Plant it in gravel or on a raised spot.
• Leave the clump standing in winter: the blond plumes look lovely and protect the heart.
• In a pot: stand it against a wall, out of the rain, and on pot feet.

Diseases and pests

• Rot: The clump turns brown and soft after a wet winter. Improve drainage and mulch with gravel.
• Bare clump: After 3–4 years, lots of dead leaves and little green. Replace it with a seedling.
• Flattened clump: After heavy rain or snow it lies flat. It usually recovers; otherwise comb it out gently.
• Too many seedlings: Weed them out while small or cut off the plumes in time.

Through the year

• January: Blond clump as a winter outline.
• March: Comb out dead stems.
• April: Comb out if not done yet. Plant. Move seedlings.
• May: Plant. Water in dry spells.
• June: Flowering begins: silvery green plumes.
• July: Flowering. Weed out seedlings.
• August: Plumes turn blond. Cut them off if you do not want seedlings.
• September: Weed out seedlings.
• November: Leave the clump standing for winter.

Did you know?

• Botanists have moved it between names several times: from Stipa to Nassella, and some now use Stipa again. You will see both names on sale.
• In French it is called ‘cheveux d’ange’, angel’s hair, after its fine, silky plumes.
• In its homeland it grows on dry, rocky slopes and open grassland: that is why it copes so well with drought and hates wet feet.