Fine hair-like strands rise into shimmering golden panicles from summer to fall, swaying with the least breeze. Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuifolia), or pony tails, is an evergreen perennial for grass beds, pots and ground cover that asks only full sun and poor, well drained soil, since it loathes soil that stays moist.
| Name | Stipa tenuifolia |
|---|---|
| Family | Poaceae |
| Type | perennial, grass |
| Height | 1 ½ feet (50 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | ordinary, well drained |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Blooming | late spring to mid-autumn |
This easy-to-care-for feather grass fits right into any grass bed and also grows well in a pot thanks to its ornamental appeal.
Indifferently in spring or fall in well drained soil.
Select a very sunny location and try to set it towards the front of a bed to make the most of its beautiful panicles.
When planting trees and shrubs, skip compost and fertiliser in the hole and backfill with the native soil, since amendments can discourage roots from spreading and cause the plant to settle unevenly.
No pruning is really required but it is nonetheless possible to cut the stems back at the end of winter.
Indeed, cutting back part of the dried leaves will trigger sending up of new, bright green shoots.
Pruning in this manner will help the grass keep a nice, roundish shape and the color will be more consistent.
The roots of Mexican feather grass (or pony tails) run along the surface instead of going deep, so best select a wide, shallow pot at least 1 ½ feet (45 cm) across.
Water often, as soon as the soil is dry. For best results in pots, remember to fertilize with a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Nettle weed tea is one of the best possible options, but there are others suitable ones like comfrey weed tea, too.
Mexican feather grass is an easy plant to use for ground cover. The wind swaying the strands is most beautiful.
There are two ways to cover ground with your Pony tails grass:
In the first case you’ll want to split the clump and leave it as large as possible, whereas in the second you’ll want to break the clump down into smaller strands and spread them evenly. Perform this either early fall or spring, as long as there isn’t any frost foreseen within the following month.
This will recreate a dune-like feeling and seem quite impressive.
You’ll soon see a field of gold growing in your garden!
The same grass can be used as a dune-like ground cover, an even carpet, a potted specimen or a bed plant. Here is what each approach asks of you and what it looks like once established.
| Way of growing it | When to plant or divide | What it needs | Effect obtained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large split clumps | Early fall or spring, no frost due within a month | Slice the clump through the middle with a sharp spade and lever it up with its surface roots | Hilly, seemingly random, dune-like feeling |
| Small torn bunches | Early fall or spring, no frost due within a month | Tear the clump into 5 to 15 bunches, plant up to a foot (25 cm) apart in holes half a foot deep | Homogeneous, even coverage — a field of gold |
| In a pot | Spring or fall | Wide shallow pot at least 1 ½ feet (45 cm) across with ½ foot (15 cm) of soil, excellent drainage, high-nitrogen fertilizer | Normal height and full ornamental appeal on a terrace |
| In beds or as a standalone | Spring or fall | A very sunny location, towards the front of the bed, in well drained soil | Panicles and foliage on show from spring to winter |
Whichever route you take, poor and well drained soil in full sun is what keeps the clumps tidy and golden.
This very beautiful perennial is part of the grasses family and it produces beautiful golden panicles from summer to fall.
You can set your feather grass up in perennial beds or shrub beds, and also as a standalone to highlight its superb foliage.
The care it needs is very easy and it is guaranteed to produce a great decorative impact from spring to winter!
Read also:
Pony tails feather grass adapts particularly well to poor soil types, but loathes them when too moist.
