Mexican Feather Grass

Finestem Needlegrass

Nassella tenuissima

nas-SEL-uh ten-yoo-ISS-ee-muh
2 to 3 ft.
1 to 2 ft.
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low to very low

light beige

summer

2 to 3 ft.

1 to 2 ft.

Yes

Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado

sun

USDA zones 5-10

hardy to 6,000 ft.

Mexican feather grass is a small ornamental grass with very thin, bright green leaves. A native of Texas and New Mexico, it is grown for its soft, wispy texture. The leaves and seedheads move gracefully in light breezes.

By June, it produces flower stalks which mature into silvery seedheads. They are especially beautiful when backlit by the sun. Because this is a cool-season grass, it will grow in spring and may go dormant in the prolonged heat of summer. This ornamental grass grows best in rock mulch, not wood chips. In some locations, it will self-seed abundantly.

Mexican feather grass is a good ornamental grass for mass plantings. Its leaves turn golden blonde in winter.

low to very low

light beige

summer

2 to 3 ft.

1 to 2 ft.

Yes

Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado

sun

USDA zones 5-10

hardy to 6,000 ft.

Mexican feather grass grows well in low water areas with rock or gravel mulch at the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden. It can produce a lot of seedlings through self-sowing, but these are easy to remove by hand pulling.

In early spring, cut the old growth to ground level.