Nassella (formerly Stipa) tenuissima aka Pony Tails, Mexican Feather Grass

Nassella (Stipa) tenuissima is considered a cool season grass, and is best planted in early spring or late summer/early fall. Their foliage is green during the cool/rainy season and browns to a golden ivory through the heat of the summer. Leave the grass standing through the winter for a lovely texture in your yard. Cut this grass back in the early spring to 1/3 of its height before new growth emerges. In order to prevent unwanted 'creeping' of this ornamental grass due to wind, or fauna, the seed heads can be cut off as they begin to show signs of drying and changing color. This will not affect the base plant's growth the following year.

• Nassella (formerly Stipa) tenuissima Specifics:
• Season: Perennial
• Zoned: 6-10 (**note: we live in 5b, Steppe Climate, and it flourishes)
• Height: 16-24 inches
• Width: 12 inch average "bow"
• Foliage Color: Medium Bright Green
• Flower Color: Green changing to golden white
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Fall Color: Green fading to cream
• Soil Requirements: Average garden soil, pH 6.0-7.0
• Environment: Full Sun
• Moisture Requirements: Average to Dry
• Grass Characteristic: Cool Season Grass
• Plant Spacing: 12" for a more solid appearance, at least 24" to enjoy the individual clumps

• Sowing/Care Instructions:
• Nassella can be started indoors about 6 weeks prior to last frost. Sow 5-6 seeds in a cluster, lightly dragging a thin layer of soil over the seeds.
• Germination: 2-3 weeks average. The shoots will be fine, needle-like single spikes.
• Light is required for germination.
• Keep the seeds moist and warm until germination, then continue to keep soil moist, but not soggy until transplanting outside.
• Transplant when threat of frost is gone. Once established, this plant is fairly winter hardy. Ours has lived through up to -12°F a few times.

These are seeds from my own garden. They were lovingly raised from seeds themselves.

The seed counts stated are approximations - there are at least the specified number of seeds - probably a good deal more in each packet. The seeds still have beards so that you can choose to plant with beard, or without. I find that when planted indoors, the beard helps mark where the grass seeds are in the starter soil. I sow the seed slightly angled so the beard kind of "points" to where the seed is as it emerges from the soil.

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