Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails'
Mexican hair grass
Also known as Stipa tenuifolia (misapplied)
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Generally available in late Summer & early Autumn
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There's a magical quality to these grasses with the slenderest of stems. These stand upright but fan slightly outwards and end in a fuzz of foliage, the ultimate in split ends. The stems bend and shift and catch the light. It is best grown in small groups with sufficient space to appreciate their shape. They are wonderful in crisp, urban-styled gardens, or dreamy cottage ones. Give them a haircut if the top gets matted and pull out dead foliage in spring, being careful not to pull up the entire plant during the process.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green, Grey
- Autumn foliage
- Yellow-creamy
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Height in 10 years
- 0.61m
- Spread in 10 years
- 0.51m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Prairie garden, Gravel garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Cold to -15C (RHS H5)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bird attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Remove dead leaves
When leaves die they can carefully be detached or cut off at their base to improve the overall appearance of the plant. Be careful not to damage the main stems during this process.
Found in
More Stipa
Stipa arundinacea
Pheasant's tail grass, New Zealand wind grass
Stipa gigantea
Golden oats, Giant oats, Giant feather grass
Stipa
Needle grass, Spear grass, Feather grass
Stipa barbata
Short bearded feather grass, Feather grass
Stipa calamagrostis
Silver spike grass, Silver spear grass
Stipa gigantea 'Gold Fontaene'
Golden oats, Giant oats, Giant feather grass
Stipa ichu
Ichu needle grass
Stipa pennata
European feather grass