Mexican Feather Grass (Stipa tenuissima) - Grown from Mexican Feather Grass seeds, this beautiful mounded ornamental grass with needle-like flexible leaves forms dense, bright-green clumps. The flowers are silky awns that appear in June and change from green to gold as they mature. These ornamental grasses are especially striking when planted in masses, but they also can be grown in containers with nice results.

Stipa tenuissima Mexican Feather Grass also is commonly called Silky Thread Grass or Mexican Needle Grass, and it has moderate cold-hardiness and performs very well in hot summer months. This is an environmentally-friendly ornamental grass with virtually no pests or diseases.

SOWING:

Season: Perennial

Sow: February - April

Height: 16 inches (40 cm)

Width: 12 inches (30 cm)

Foliage Color: Medium green

Flower Color: White spikes

Growth Rate: Fast

Fall Color: Golden brown

Soil Requirement: Average garden soil, pH 6.0 - 7.0

Environment: Full sun

Moisture Requirements: Average to dry

Germ temperature: 20-22C (68 - 72F) 

Average Germ Time: 2 - 3 weeks

Light Required: Yes

Depth: Cover seeds lightly

Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination

Plant Spacing: 12 inches (30 cm)

Start the Stipa tenuissima seeds indoors in the early spring. Use small pots filled with seed starting mix. Place the ornamental grass seeds onto the soil and cover thinly with sand or soil and keep the seeds moist. Mexican Feather Grass will bloom the first year. Plant the ornamental grass in full sun and in well-drained soils that are moisture retentive but never wet and not overly rich. A sandy-loam soil being ideal as they can be short-lived in heavy soils.