Nassella tenuissima, commonly known as Mexican Feather Grass, is a fine textured ornamental grass with wispy hairlike leaves and delicate blonde flowering plumes that dance in the slightest breeze. Its graceful movement and shimmering seed heads make it a favorite in naturalistic landscapes.
Height & Spread: 18 - 24 in x 18 - 24 in
Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained, sandy to rocky soils; does not tolerate wet sites
Watering Needs: Low; thrives in dry, hot environments
Deer Resistance: Deer resistant
Native Status
This species is native to parts of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. It is well adapted to arid and semi arid conditions.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Provides nesting material and seeds for songbirds and cover for ground dwelling birds in dry grassland habitats.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 18 - 24 in apart for flowing mass plantings or allow more room to highlight individual movement and form.
Landscape Placement
- Perfect for dry borders, rock gardens, slope stabilization, and modern design plantings. Especially striking when backlit or used en masse for texture and motion.
Companion Plants
- Eriogonum umbellatum (Sulphur Buckwheat) - Adds bright yellow flowers and low mounding form in arid gardens.
- Callirhoe involucrata (Purple Poppy Mallow) - Spreads low beneath Nassella with bright magenta flowers in spring and summer.
- Salvia reptans (West Texas Grass Sage) - Provides airy blue flowers that contrast beautifully with golden grass plumes.
- Penstemon barbatus (Beardtongue) - Adds vertical flower spikes and attracts hummingbirds in dry, sunny conditions.
- Artemisia 'Powis Castle' - Offers silver foliage and drought tolerance to complement the fine textures of Nassella.