Mexican Feather Grass

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

1-2 Feet

Mature Spread

1.5-2 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 10

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.