So, it’s a smaller grass that works well to texturize other plants in your low-water garden. This is a waterwise plant! Plant Mexican feather grass in well-drained soil, near other xeric plants. Hardiness zones Sunset 2-24 USDA 7-11. Heat and drought tolerant with moderate growth rate. Press the seed into the soil and lightly cover. Mexican feather grass is one of the loveliest of all the ornamental grasses, and retains its beauty from spring until early winter. Coues deer are still recognized in both the U.S. and Mexico, and Central American whitetails are recognized in southernmost Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Mexican feather grass is native to west Texas, New Mexico, and portions of Mexico. Stipa tenuissima forms upright tufted mounds of fine textured hair-like foliage. These large mammals move into gardens and yards more as their natural habitat is lost. Buy Mexican Feather Grass online. Some, like this Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima), are simple—just use a trowel to dig up a portion of the grass, roots and all. Excessive irrigation or flooding rain, especially in heavy soils, will rot its roots. Nassella tenuissima nah-SELL-a ten-yew-ISS-ih-mah. Now, however, there are four more Mexico-specific whitetail categories, essentially following the “regional grouping” model used in Canada and the U.S. Keep that row cover ready! Mexican feather grass is relatively deer resistant. Note that several of the Deer Grass clumps in the photo at right (3 years after planting) are still vigorous, while others need attention. Botanical Name: Mullenbergia rigens. Start the seed indoors 4 – 6 weeks before the end of frost season. It’s said that the successful sweep of this welcome western United States native can be attributed to Native Americans, who among other things wove its foliage into baskets and storage vessels. These little charmers are some of the easiest plants to tuck into your garden, because they fit almost anywhere, have year-round good looks, and need little care. The effect is especially striking when several plants are grouped together. Plant Category: Grasses. Mexican feather grass grows to about 18 inches to two feet tall and a foot or two wide. Deer Grass, Muhlenbergia rigens, is actually a deer resistant ornamental species. It's no wonder this ornamental grass has been enthusiastically … Gulf Coast Muhly. This grass comes from elevations of 3,300-5,000 feet in the Chihuahuan desert from eastern Arizona, New Mexico, South Texas and northern Mexico. Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) thrives on minimal care, but after 2 to 4 years a thatch of dead foliage and toppled flower stalks will build up. Stipa tenuissima Mexican Feather Grass also is commonly called Silky Thread Grass or Mexican Needle Grass, and it has moderate cold-hardiness and performs very well in hot summer months. Mexican Feather Grass is easy to grow, and it is usually not eaten by rabbits or deer. Deergrass is a large perennial bunchgrass found in sandy or well drained soils below 7000 feet in elevation in the southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella or Stipa tenuissima) is a wildly popular ornamental grass used by home gardeners and landscape design professionals. Top: Getting the brown blades out of blue oat grass Bottom: Mexican feather grass before, a month after, and three months after pruning. No other grass exhibits quite the refinement of texture as this species. Excessive irrigation or flooding rain, especially in heavy soils, will rot its roots. Talk to neighbors, family and friends to see what works for them or choose from these deer-resistant ornamental grass for your landscape. Plus it is extremely drought tolerant adding to its allure. In southern California and along the central coast it is found in sandy gravelly places, canyons, and washes as part of the chaparral community. Foliage is less than 1/8” wide and up to 12” long. This is a waterwise plant! The plant is characterized by dense, tufted basal foliage consisting of narrow … The Mexican wolf, once abundant, was nearly extinct and remains on the endangered species list. Plants are hardy from USDA Zones 6-9. While most gardeners want to keep deer and other wildlife away from their plants, this form of gardening attempts the opposite. So, it’s a smaller grass that works well to texturize other plants in your low-water garden. The flowers are silky awns that appear in June and change from green to gold as they mature. Water to establish it. Every gardener must look for the required information on this plant before planting it. Leaves are bright green with slender yellow or purple flower spikes in autumn. A cool season grass that will stay evergreen in cooler climates. Native from California to Texas and south into Mexico. Native to Texas and Mexico, this grass has very fine green foliage which is extremely delicate and soft in appearance. Pronounciation: Nas-SEL-a ten-u-is-SI-ma. Great xeriscape native plant choice for Arizona. To demonstrate the beauty and value of the Blackland Prairie, University of Texas at Austin students are seeding the future at the Half-Pint | watch episode →, Half-Pint Urban Prairie + Native Fruit Tress, http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/home-landscape/edible-gardens/growing-vegetables/, Winter annuals, including calendula, snapdragon, pansy, viola, dusty miller, ornamental kale and cabbage, alyssum, stock, cyclamen, dusty miller, flowering kale and cabbage, Avoid planting cold tender plants like Pride of Barbardos, Esperanza, lantana, plumbago, Cilantro transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage, rue, chives, Be prepared to cover in case of deep freeze, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas), Prune freeze damaged plants or not? Nassella (Stipa) tenuissima - Mexican Feather Grass, Texas Needle Grass is native to the Soutwestern United States. A North American native, Mexican feather grass has an upright habit with silky looking seed heads appearing in the summer. Name: Deer Grass. Mexican feather grass grows to about 18 inches to two feet tall and a foot or two wide. Mexican feather grass is also a good choice for erosion control on exposed hillsides. In spring, Mexican feather grass can brighten up any landscape with its bright green color. This produces lots of seeds, and soon you could have many more! Climate. It is considered deer resistant. © California Native Plant Society. After that, water sparingly, during the driest of times. Collect leaves from neighbors to add to compost pile! Horticulturist Karen Beaty from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plucks a few for big and small gardens to feed us, the birds, and beneficial pollinators. Water to establish it. Plant deer grass in full sun and water regularly during the first month. Most hunts are conducted utilizing high racks to see the deer over the brush. Plants are useful to human beings in innumerable ways. Deer grass Muhlenbergia rigens. Description. Height – 1 ½ feet (50 cm) Exposure – full sun Soil – ordinary, well drained. If picky relatives coming, okay to prune, Avoid pruning shrubs right now unless you see damage, Do not prune oak trees unless you have damage: paint wound immediately, Okay to prune trees other than red oaks and live oaks, Shrubs, roses, trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials while dormant, Asters and other fall-bloomers which are dormant, Select spots where you want fruit trees, grapes, or berries to plant in January; for now, prep with compost, Mulch cold tender plants like gingers, Esperanza and semi-tropicals. Deer grass. You can then divide the clump again, and replant them, … They’re great planted in masses, to add soft texture that sways with every breeze. If you can contain it, though, this grass is quite lovely, especially when it blows in the wind. These is best done in early spring, before new growth appears. This feathery, small clumping grass is perfect for the waterwise garden! Reaches up to 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide. This is an environmentally-friendly ornamental grass with virtually no pests or diseases. In summer, feathery plumes will emerge from the grass, turning from green to golden as the summer progresses. Many native grasses and other species have become dominated by woody native plants, including creosote bush and mesquite, due to overgrazing and other urbanization. This is often the most limiting factor for hunters. Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0, This is a large clumping grass, so use with shrubs that won't be overwhelmed by it, such as, Can be cut back in fall if it becomes unruly, 1, 2, 3, 6*, 7*, 8*, 9*, 10*, 11*, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*. The first thing to consider when establishing wildlife food plots is location. Can tolerate drought when established as well as regular water. It is named for its mounding form that is dense enough to hide baby fawns in the North American wild. Cut them near the base to encourage new growth. Many ornamental grasses tolerate drought and will grow well in hot, dry Arizona gardens. Prefers sun but can grow in shade. Plants occur in New Mexico, west Texas and in Mexico, Chile and Argentina. The only care needed is an annual ‘hair-cut’. Often other species such as coues deer or desert sheep can be hunted as well. It is considered deer resistant. Mexican feather grass survives in dry conditions and thrives just fine after being cut back. In Leander, Ellen and Rick Bickling turned the kids’ old basketball court into square foot | watch episode →, Let’s get growing native fruit trees! Give it sun or part shade. Home » Deer Grass. Despite the spectacular blooms, deer grass … Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched. Mexican Feather Stipa tenuissima Grass seeds,are a beautiful mounded ornamental grass with needle-like flexible leaves forms dense, bright green clumps. Common: Silky thread grass, Mexican feather grass, Mexican needle grass, pony tails Family: Poaceae Origin: Dispersed widely on rocky slopes, dry open woods and dry prairies from New Mexico and Texas south through central Mexico. A dense tight clump with an upright growth habit. Deer Grass. This process can be seen starting on the plant to the far right in this photo. Best to leave seeds on plants for birds and protect root system. Son Steve Bartholomew from the Square Foot Gardening Foundation explains why his dad developed the concept, easy steps to make one, and how its global impact conquers hunger. Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) i s a no-brainer: native, adaptable, wildlife food source and shelter. Deer Resistant Native Grasses. Not everyone has acres of land available or access to land that they can work with. Some native plant organizations consider it invasive. Tolerates Serpentine Soil. Once established, deer grass tolerates drought and thrives on only 15 inches of water per year. Why is Mel Bartholomew’s innovative square foot gardening concept so valuable today? The importance of Deer Grass is high as its benefits are more and so are Deer Grass Facts. In addition, the mexican food you will enjoy while there is superb. Seed eating birds will be attracted to it in summer, Tolerant of sand and clay. All rights reserved. It prefers a full sun location and well-drained soil. Mexican Feather Grass has virtually no pests or disease and requires little care. It does not spread by the roots, but it does sometimes spread from seed, so remove seedlings you do not want before they mature. Selecting the Location . In a few locations it may be found on seasonal stream banks or other wetland areas. Occasionally, Mexican feather grass is sold … A great looking smaller grass that is similar in appearance but about half the size of California Deer Grass … Annual Precipitation: 4.1" - 61.8", Summer Precipitation: 0.14" - 2.83", Coldest Month: 32.3" - 60.5", Hottest Month: 55.0" - 87.5", Humidity: 0.46" - 40.07", Elevation: 14" - 7694", Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. In inland mountain areas it may occur with Ponderosa Pine and other trees in yellow pine woodland or foothill woodland. Name – Stipa tenuifolia Family – Poaceae Type – perennial, grass. Plant in fall or spring. Mexican feather grass, also called pony tails, is a superb grass known for its shimmering golden panicles.. Mexican feather grass facts. Wherever it grows, it gives quite a dramatic show in late summer and fall when it explodes into action with thin, tan flower spikes that tower two feet above the foliage and arch elegantly outwards. Its graceful mounding habit and fine-texture, semi-evergreen foliage is a welcome addition to dry landscapes. Its bright green foliage resembles delicate filaments that arise in elegant, vase-like clumps and spill outward like a soft fountain. The grass clump will be overgrown, possibly encroaching on neighboring plants or creeping out beyond the border or edge. In California, it grows primarily in the coast ranges of central and southern California, the Sierra and Cascade foothills, and the eastern part of the North Coast range. Plant in full sun in fairly well-drained soil. Mexico offers some legendary mule deer hunting, especially during the rut in December and January. Mexican feather grass. Mexican Feather Grass has fairly good hardiness to cold yet it performs well with the intense heat of summer. It has no pests or diseases, and it grows into dense clumps that stay where you put them. It produces soft blonde seed stalks in late spring through summer. But if you find this annoying, simply dig up the seedlings when they’re small and share with your friends or in another part of your garden. After that, water sparingly, during the driest of times. In a residential or commercial landscape it provides beautiful tufts of arching … Plant in fall or spring. … All summer it bears a profusion of feathery panicles, which mature from foamy-green to blonde. Deergrass or deer grass is a common name for several plants and may refer to: Muhlenbergia rigens - a perennial bunchgrass native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10; Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade; Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy, acid; tolerant of sand and clay; 03 of 12. Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) is an exceptionally lovely and graceful ornamental grass which exhibits silvery-green thread-like leaves in late spring, that sway gracefully in the slightest breeze, delicately softening any landscapes. You can also call on Mexican feather grass when planting containers for hot, dry locations. Mexican Feather Grass is loved for its graceful, delicate and fine texture – it grows out in a cascade like a beautiful fountain. Pink Muhly grass Muhlenbergia capillaris. Like other ornamental grasses, prune them during dormancy in February. Little supplemental irrigation required but can handle more regular irrigation if soil drains well. This native grass is rabbit resistant, and can live on only 15 inches of water per year. Rake leaves into beds to mulch over winter and return nutrients to the soil, Mow leaves on grass (if not raking to beds or compost) to break them down. Very drought tolerant. This will not only add expertise to your gardening hobby, but it will also help you understand its characteristics. All summer, it bears abundant feathery panicles, which are held a little above the foliage and can be used in dried arrangements. This sun-loving plant grows 18 to 24 inches tall and, once established, is relatively drought resistant. Foliage: evergreen Blooming: May to October. Deer Grass Muhlenbergia Rigens Attractive specimens of this no-fuss clumping grass can be found growing naturally across the southwestern U.S. and into northern Mexico. Ornamental grasses offer several benefits for Arizona gardeners. Mar 16, 2012 - There are ornamental grasses deer won't eat. Yet even the most easy-going of grasses need periodic attention to perform their best. Deer know no border and tend to feed on any suitable plant they think is tasty. You may find this quality endearing, especially if you have some empty spaces you want to fill in. This tough plant adds graceful movement and long-lasting texture to potted gardens from early spring until frost. Plant Characteristics . Rhexia - a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. In some cases, the centers of the grass clumps will have died out and need to be removed. 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