Stipa tenuissima

Common Name(s)

Mexican feathergrass, Mexican feather grass, Argentine needlegrass, fine-stem needlegrass, white tussock, ponytail grass, Texas tussock, Texas tussock grass, pony tail, Mexican needle grass, angel's hair, elegant spear grass

Synonym(s)

Nassella tenuissima (Trin.) Barkworth, Stipa cirrosa E. Fourn., Stipa geniculata Phil., Stipa mendocina Phil., Stipa oreophila Speg., Stipa subulata E. Fourn., Stipa tenuissima var. oreophila (Speg.) Speg., Stipa tenuissima var. planicola Speg.

Is this plant a cultivar? No

Name of Variety, or Name of Cultivar:

N/A

Life History: Perennial

Growth Form: grass

Native Range

Native: NORTHERN AMERICA South-Central U.S.A.: United States - New Mexico, Texas Northern Mexico: Mexico - Coahuila, Durango [e.], Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas Southern Mexico: Mexico - Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Mexico, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz SOUTHERN AMERICA Southern South America: Argentina - Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Cordoba, Entre Rios, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Rio Negro, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tucuman; Chile

Plant Description

Mexican feathergrass is a graceful, delicate and fine textured ornamental grass that is fast-growing. It grows in a dense fountain like clump with slender leaves that roll tightly inward so that they appear wiry. It blooms in late spring with a greenish flower cluster that persists well into fall as it ripens to golden brown.
Previous taxonomy: Nassella tenuissima

History as an Ornamental

Used as an ornamental and sold in nurseries.

External Resources

GBIF Link

GBIF Species Page

Tropicos Link

Tropicos Species Page

Additional Web Resources

ARS GRIN

Global Invasive Species Database

PlantRight

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