Stipa tenuissima
Feather grass
Common names: Hair grass
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 10 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Jun–Aug
- Hardiness
- Hardy
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Feather grass (Stipa tenuissima) is a fine ornamental grass with hair-thin, silvery-green blades that sway gently in the breeze. From June to August it produces delicate, silky-sheened panicles that turn straw‑golden in late summer and remain in the garden into winter. The upright, compact clump is suitable for rock gardens, loose perennial beds, and containers. It stays green in winter, retaining most of its structure during the cold season.
Care instructions
Plant in full sun, warm conditions, and a well‑drained, slightly sandy or loamy soil; avoid heavy, water‑logged soils. Water sparingly, only during extended dry periods, as excess moisture harms the fine roots. In early spring (late February to early March, week 8 to 10), cut back dead stems close to the ground to allow new growth. For heavy soils, add a handful of sand or gravel to the planting hole to prevent waterlogging. Divide older clumps every few years in spring when the center has browned.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun–Aug
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, sandy, lean, dry
Mexican feather grass likes it barren and free-draining, preferably in sandy to gravelly soil without waterlogging. It is better to leave heavy, loamy or permanently damp soils to other plants, as the roots rot quickly there. A poor site with few nutrients keeps the clumps compact and stable instead of letting them run to foliage.
Feeding
Light feeder
Mexican feather grass needs practically no feeding; too many nutrients make the blades soft and prone to snapping. A thin layer of mature compost in spring is quite enough if the soil is already poor. It is better to skip fertiliser altogether than to let the grass grow too lushly.
Overwintering
Mexican feather grass is hardy, but does not like wet cold at all. Do not cut the clumps back in autumn; the old foliage protects the heart of the plant from moisture and frost. On heavy soils, a handful of gravel around the root zone helps so that no water stands in winter.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Division
The easiest way is to divide established clumps in spring as soon as new growth becomes visible. Carefully dig up the root ball and separate it with a sharp spade into strong pieces; each needs enough roots to establish. Sowing is also possible, but takes longer to reach a presentable clump size. Replant freshly divided plants straight away and keep them moderately moist for the first weeks until they root in again.
For your garden
Grow Feather grass yourself
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