Stipa

Stipa tenuissima

Engels: Mexican Feather Grass

ornamental grassPoaceaeWintergroen

Stipa (Stipa tenuissima) is a evergreen ornamental grass from the Poaceae family that grows up to 60cm tall. This plant thrives in full sun and requires low maintenance. Blooms in autumn and summer with beige flowers and attracts birds.

Hoogte

40–60 cm

Breedte

30–40 cm

Zonligging

full sun

Waterbehoefte

low water needs

Grondsoort

sandy soil, loam, chalky soil

Onderhoud

low maintenance

Bloeitijd

autumn, summer

Bloemkleuren

beige

Ecologische waarde

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Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
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Care tips

Planting

Mexican feather grass thrives in full sun and free-draining soil, making it ideal for gravel gardens, sunny borders, and Mediterranean-style planting schemes. It tolerates sandy soil, loam, and chalky soil equally well, but the key requirement is excellent drainage—waterlogged conditions will quickly kill it. Before planting, work in grit or sharp sand if your soil is heavy clay to improve drainage. Plant pot-grown specimens in April, May, or September when the soil is workable and temperatures are mild. Dig a hole roughly twice the width of the root ball but no deeper, so the crown sits at the same level it was in the pot. Space plants 35 cm apart to allow each clump to develop its characteristic arching habit without crowding. If planting in groups, arrange them in odd numbers for a more natural effect. After planting, firm the soil gently around the roots and water in well to settle the plant, even though this grass is drought-tolerant once established. For the first few weeks, water occasionally during dry spells to help roots establish, but avoid keeping the soil constantly moist. A light mulch of gravel or grit around the base will suppress weeds and further improve drainage, but keep mulch away from the crown itself to prevent rot. Avoid planting in heavy shade or damp, poorly drained sites. Mexican feather grass is evergreen in mild winters and performs best in open, sunny positions where air circulation is good. Autumn planting gives roots time to establish before winter, but spring planting is safer in colder or wetter gardens.

Pruning

Mexican feather grass requires minimal pruning, but an annual tidy-up in March keeps it looking fresh and prevents the centre from becoming conggy or tatty. Unlike many deciduous grasses, this species is evergreen, so it retains its fine, hair-like foliage through winter. However, by late winter the older leaves often look bleached, damaged by frost, or simply tired, and the plant benefits from a light trim before new growth begins in spring. In March, use a pair of sharp garden shears or secateurs to comb through the clump and remove dead, brown, or damaged foliage. You can either trim the whole plant back by about one-third to one-half, or simply rake your fingers through the tussock to pull out dead material—this is gentler and preserves more of the evergreen structure. Avoid cutting right down to the ground as you would with deciduous grasses; the crown needs some foliage to photosynthesize and recover quickly. Wear gloves when handling Mexican feather grass, as the fine leaves can be surprisingly sharp and may irritate skin. Work on a dry day so you can see clearly which stems are dead. If the plant has self-seeded prolifically (it can be invasive in mild climates), cut off the spent flower heads in late summer before seed disperses, though this reduces the ornamental effect of the feathery seedheads. No other pruning is needed. The grass flowers from summer into autumn, producing soft, beige plumes that age to blonde and catch the light beautifully—leave these intact unless you want to control spread.

Maintenance

Once established, Mexican feather grass is exceptionally low-maintenance and drought-tolerant. Water newly planted specimens occasionally during their first summer if rainfall is scarce, but after that, watering is rarely necessary. Established plants cope well with dry spells and actually perform better in lean, dry conditions than in rich, moist soil. Overwatering or waterlogged soil in winter is the most common cause of failure, leading to root rot. Feeding is not required and is best avoided. This grass evolved in poor, rocky soils and too much fertility encourages soft, floppy growth that lacks the plant's characteristic fine texture and may flop open in the centre. No feeding months are recommended—simply let it grow in the existing soil. Mexican feather grass is hardy to zone 6a, so it survives most winters in temperate Europe without protection. In colder or wetter areas, good drainage becomes even more critical in winter. If your garden is prone to winter wet, consider planting in a raised bed or adding extra grit at planting time. The evergreen foliage may look scorched after hard frosts, but the plant usually recovers in spring. Pests and diseases are rare. Occasionally, aphids may appear on new growth in spring, but they seldom cause lasting damage. Rust can occur in humid conditions, though it's uncommon; improve air circulation if you notice orange spots on foliage. Self-seeding can be prolific in mild, well-drained gardens. If you want to prevent spread, deadhead the feathery plumes in late summer before seed ripens, or simply pull up unwanted seedlings in spring. A gravel mulch around the base helps suppress weeds and maintains the dry conditions this grass prefers.