
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
Tan and white flowers sway in the slightest breeze atop bright green leaves on this grass-like plant. Mexican Feather Grass is an attractive foliage plant that Northern gardeners will love in their landscapes, borders or edgings as it tolerates cool spring and summers yet is heat tolerant as well. Plant this lovely grass in containers with bold colored sun loving annuals for an outstanding display.
The grass is native to North America, Northern Mexico and Argentina. Cold hardy in zones 7a to 10b where it can be an aggressive perennial, this grass performs amazingly well as an annual in Zones 2-6. Grasses are attractive in a landscape and serve to provide a soft, airy element to an otherwise green environment. Use caution in warmer climates as this grass may reseed and take over your space. It is declared an invasive species in California.
Mexican Feather Grass Care
Loose, loamy soil works best for Mexican Feather Grass, so if your soil is compact, add sand and organic material to loosen it up. Grasses generally prefer a soil pH of 5.8 to 6.2, moist soil, not soggy, and a full sun, some light shade, location. It is not attractive to rabbits or deer, and not normally bothered by insects. Light applications of compost are all that is needed to feed it.
Deadheading is not necessary as it will not promote more flowering. Pruning back in late fall to a couple inches above the soil in areas where it is perennial can be done, but this plant serves as a winter interest if you leave it until late winter. Use sharp scissors to shear it, taking care to sterilize your tools in between plants to prevent possible disease transmission.
Mexican Feather Grass Spacing
This grass-like annual grows to about 24 inches tall and 24 inches wide, so space plants 20 to 24 inches apart to promote good air circulation and give it room to spread out. Planting Mexican Feather Grass along a border or as an edging is attractive as is mixing it with other flowering annuals. Use it in mid ground due to its height for your garden bed.
Mexican Feather Grass Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10 |
Flower Color(s): White |
Bloom Period: Grown for Foliage |
Foliage Color(s) Green, Brown |
Light Exposure: Part Sun to Sun |
Height Class: Medium |
Height: 12-24 Inches |
Spread: 20-24 Inches |
Spacing: 20-24 Inches |
Habit: Upright |
Watering: Average |
Drought Tolerant: No |
Container Role: Thriller |
Use Types: Container, Landscape |
Features: Native to North America, Foliage Interest, Deadheading Not Necessary |
Maintenance: Easy |
Scientific Name: Nassella tenuissima (formerly Stipa) |
Common Name: Mexican Feather Grass |
Other Name(s): Finestem Needlegrass |
Plant Type: Annual |
Brand: Proven Selections |
- SKU:
- STIMFP
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

#5 Pot
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

Best in Class Warranty
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
Arrival Guarantee
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Free 1-Year Plant Warranty
All bushes, perennials & trees come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-Ordered Plants
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated Spring Shipping Schedule
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 24th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants Shipping Now
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.