Mexican Feather Grass
Nassella tenuissima
Graceful and ethereal, Nassella tenuissima, or Mexican Feather Grass, brings delicate movement and texture to any landscape design.
Size
Installation
About this plant
Known for its exceptionally fine, hair-like foliage, Mexican Feather Grass forms elegant mounds of soft green that shimmer with the slightest breeze. Its airy seed heads emerge in summer, adding a silvery-gold sheen that truly lives up to its common name, resembling a whisper of feathers. A Cut Above frequently incorporates this versatile ornamental grass into modern, xeriscape, and naturalistic garden designs, where its flowing form provides a beautiful contrast to more structured plantings. Ideal for mass plantings, borders, containers, or as an accent plant, Mexican Feather Grass offers year-round visual interest and a unique textural element.
Care & maintenance
Nassella tenuissima is generally low-maintenance. Cut back foliage in late winter or early spring to about 4-6 inches from the ground to encourage fresh new growth. Extremely drought-tolerant once established and rarely bothered by pests or diseases.
Quick facts
- Type
- grass
- Mature height
- 1-2 feet
- Mature width
- 1-2 feet
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (performs best in full sun)
- Water
- Porous, well-draining soil; drought-tolerant once established
- Growth rate
- Medium