Mexican feather grass stipa tenuissima grown from mexican feather grass seeds, this beautiful mounded ornamental grass with needlelike flexible leaves forms dense, bright green clumps. An impressive plant, absolutely unbeatable growing on its own, and. Bright emeraldgreen leaves which turn to brown through the year with delicate flowering heads in summer. Stipa from burncoose nurseries varieties of stipa available to buy include the following. It gently sways in the breeze and its silky seed heads glow brightly when they catch the sunlight.
Flowers bloom a greenish color in summer to late fall and then mature to a golden color. L48 one of a few plants to occur naturally in southwestern north america and in southern south america with no natural populations in between. Other articles where stipa tenacissima is discussed. Ang stipa sakop sa kabanay nga poaceae matang nga nahiubos. This delightful grass is a perfect height for fitting in the middle of the border and sits equally well with gentle cottage garden plants like polyantha rose, beard tongue and sneezewort as well as offsetting more architectural plants like allium and sea holly. Stipa tenuissima from burncoose nurseries available online to buy information. It is just that they seem to be in every single uk garden, particularly stipa gigantea, also known as giant feather grass it is large with ethereal golden spires of seed heads and stipa tenuissima which is soft with shimmering ripples in the lightest of breezes. Finestem needlegrass, mexican feather grass, texas needle grass. Mini data sheet on stipa trichotoma, stipa neesiana and stipa.
It should not be expected to live through the winter and begin growing again in the spring. Previously known as stipa tenuissima this is one of the most popular of all grasses, forming clumps of soft green hair like foliage with a succession of lighter green flowers in summer. Nassella tenuissima knoll gardens ornamental grasses. Stipa tenuissima mexican feather grassrhs gardening. Mexican feather grass nassella formerly stipa tenuissima. Commonly called new zealand wind grass or pheasants tail grass and will reach around 1m in height stipa care. Stipa tenuissima mexican feather grass is an exceptionally lovely and graceful ornamental grass which exhibits silverygreen threadlike leaves in late spring, that sway gracefully in the slightest breeze, delicately softening any landscapes. Nassella species, silky thread grass, mexican feather. Mexican feather grassnassella tenuissima citeseerx. If you have a windy garden then grasses are a great asset. Plants form a mound of fine, hairlike green leaves, bearing pale yellow flowers that turn into whiskered tancoloured heads by late summer. Pale feathery seed heads all summer into autumn, which are a good source of food for the birds in winter.
Place of origin usa texas, new mexico mexico, argentina. Nassella tenuissima, mexican feather grass, grass, stipa. Pheasants tail grass anemanthele lessoniana, aka stipa arundinacea duration. This is a great plant for mass planting, particularly where there are windy conditions. My favourite and the one i find most versatile to use is stipa tenuissima. Nassella stipa tenuissima mexican feather grass, texas needle grass duration. Browse pictures and read growth cultivation information about nassella species, silky thread grass, mexican feather grass, mexican needle grass, pony tails stipa tenuissima supplied by member g. Esparto fibre has great strength and flexibility, and both species have for centuries been used for making. They originate from temperate and warmtemperate regions in europe, asia, new zealand and the americas. This grass is a fountain of very fine green leaves that become yellow. Adding stipa to the landscape guarantees movement, refinement, and even calm. This is the first of a series of posts i intend writing during the winter.
At this point stipa tenuissima has escaped cultivation in california mostly in the north and central coast regions and south coast. The flowers are silky awns that appear in june and change from green to gold as they mature. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. Nassella tenuissima mexican feather grass wispy finetextured clumping grass from southwest u. The compact sheaf consists of countless thin stems surmounted by clouds of nebulous golden smoke which whispers and hisses gently as it waves in the wind, much resembling a loftier stipa tenuissima. Plants by mail order since 1984, over 4100 plants online today. Plant combination ideas plant family stipa feather grasses. My thoughts stipa tenuissima creating my own garden of. Mexican feather grass stipa tenuissima plants candide. Itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. Download our availability and order form for pricing, whats in stock, and future availability. If you find stipa tenuissima that has escaped into a natural area, please add an observation to calflora and let us know so we can track the spread of this plant in california. Its like a ponytail swishing around in the wind and is a great all round grass. Nassella tenuissima mexican feather grass information.
Nasella tenuissima a clumpforming grass, this is a terrific accent for the front of a sunny border, the rock garden, or in mixed containers. More than 200 grasses comprise the stipa genus and many are vital forage crops. I have a few clumps of mfg, so i think my decision may be another ornamental grass, possibly miscanthus sinensis or panicum virgatum. Nassella tenuissima lady bird johnson wildflower center. Nassella tenuissima in the germplasm resources information network grin, u. Deciduous erect, narrowly linear to filamentlike, tightly inrolled leaves 30cm 12in or more long. Carry on browsing if youre happy with this, or find out how to manage cookies. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles.
See how rhs can give expert advice on growing, feeding, pruning and propagating plants. Stipa trichotoma nassella trichotoma, stipa neesiana nassella neesiana and stipa tenuissima. Posts about stipa tenuissima written by abbie jury. Best in full sun to partial shade with welldrained soil. Stipa is a genus of around 300 large perennial hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. Once the grass turns brown it can either be removed immediately or removed in the spring. Nassella tenuissima is a species of grass known by the common names mexican feathergrass. However, probably the best companion is wand flower as its long stalks of white flowers wave along with the slender stems.
They will probably all be plants that in themselves may seem very ordinary. These ornamental grasses are especially striking when planted in masses, but they also can be grown in containers. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and uptodate information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in. Plant profile for stipa tenuissima mexican feather grass.
Department of agriculture agricultural research service. Mexican feather grass seed stipa tenuissima ornamental. Stipa arundinacea, stipa gigantea, stipa tenuissima. Continentcountryregion, distribution, last reported, origin, first reported, invasive, reference, notes. Stipa arundicace syn anemanthele lessoniana is easy care. Stipa tenuissima from burncoose nurseries available online to buy. All summer, it bears abundant feathery panicles, which are held a little above the foliage and can be used in dried arrangements. By swishing in the wind they create movement in the garden which contrasts nicely with more clumpforming perennials. Stipa is a drought tolerant grass and requires little maintenance once established. The plants database includes the following 27 species of stipa. These grasses form the genus stipa and theyre the ones you can count on to sway in the gentlest breeze. Plants profile for nassella tenuissima finestem needlegrass.
I thought that while the weather is not so good to be outside enjoying the garden i would spend some time pondering the effects certain plants have in the garden. It is an excellent xeric companion plant and is particularly nice when planted with agave, agastache and gray artemisia. I never cut this grass back, just run my fingers through continue reading. Stipa tenuissima is also known by the common names mexican feather grass and texas needle grass. Poaceae update for itis, in cooperation with natureserve, and based on the catalogue of new world grasses database and other sources. The new foliage overtakes the old fairly quickly and it rarely needs cutting back. Where temperatures get colder than 20 degrees f, the plants should be treated as annuals.
Barkworth mexican feathergrass, mexican wiregrass, finestem needlegrass, ponytail grass, texas tussock poaceae grass family synonyms. Stipa tenuissima, pony tails stipa tenuissima, pony tails silky thread grass, angel hair. The stipas include some of the most beautiful plants, and tenuissima makes a dense tuft of vertical growth spurting out of the ground, the base of the leaves packed tightly together in a clump. Beautiful compact grass which looks good all year round. Forming dense clumps of arching, filamentthin, bright green leaves, it bears all summer long a profusion of long, narrow, softly feathery plumes greenishwhite to start with then changing to. Inspired from prairie planting, this modern and natural planting combines the rich, cool purple flower spikes of catmint six hills giant nepeta x faassenii with the billowing blooms of mexican feather grass stipa tenuissima, providing an attractive contrast. Stipa tenuissima is native to southwest and north america. They are placed in the subfamily pooideae and the tribe stipeae, which also contains many species formerly assigned to stipa, which have since been reclassified into new genera many species are important forage crops. We are working closely with nurseries and growers to ensure that millions of plants are not wasted. This is a very graceful and beautiful ornamental grass. Stipa tenuifolia stipa tenuissima lovely architectural grass. Mexican feather grass is the most finetextured grass we grow. Place of origin temperate and warmtemperate areas worldwide. Stipa is a perennial grass species in the family poaceae.
1089 1321 1062 490 227 816 1460 1527 738 312 879 1360 1454 269 1467 193 126 1534 1486 567 60 275 429 1604 299 341 388 1462 312 1375 1243 478 1264 520 307 604 441 161 11 1188 1489 1161 1195 854 443 1109