Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Nassella tenuissima
Mexican Feather Grass
Nassella tenuissima, the Mexican Feather Grass, is the finest-textured grass in general cultivation, forming tufts of thread-like bright green leaves at 0.4 to 0.6 metres that move in the slightest air and age to a pale straw blonde.
It is the standard grass of contemporary gravel and courtyard schemes, where the movement matters as much as the colour.
Specifications
- Height0.4 to 0.6 metres
- Width0.3 to 0.5 metres
- Native toNew Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico, with a separate population in Argentina
- FoliageExtremely fine thread-like bright green leaves ageing to straw blonde; evergreen to semi-evergreen
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilRequires sharply drained soil; poor and sandy ground suits it well
- LightFull sun
- WaterLow; drought-tolerant once established
- ClimateThrives in Mediterranean, temperate and arid regions
Additional Features
- FlowersSilky feathery plumes in late spring, ageing to straw and persisting for months
- UsesIdeal for mass planting, gravel gardens, courtyard beds and contemporary borders
- SpacingPlant 0.3 to 0.4 metres apart for a continuous drift
- Low MaintenanceComb dead foliage out by hand rather than cutting the clump back
- Pest ResistanceGenerally pest-free and resilient
- Drought ToleranceHolds texture and colour on minimal irrigation
- Seasonal AppealGreen in spring, blonde through summer and autumn, with constant movement
Mexican Feather Grass gives a scheme movement and light for almost no water, which is why it appears in so many contemporary planting palettes.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 08 September 2026