The only care needed is an annual ‘hair-cut’. This native grass is rabbit resistant, and can live on only 15 inches of water per year. Gulf Coast Muhly. Deer grass Muhlenbergia rigens. Mexican Feather Grass has virtually no pests or disease and requires little care. In inland mountain areas it may occur with Ponderosa Pine and other trees in yellow pine woodland or foothill woodland. 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. This is an environmentally-friendly ornamental grass with virtually no pests or diseases. Home » Deer Grass. This process can be seen starting on the plant to the far right in this photo. Plant in full sun in fairly well-drained soil. Pronounciation: Nas-SEL-a ten-u-is-SI-ma. 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. Technology Business Park . Cut them near the base to encourage new growth. Mexican feather grass is relatively deer resistant. Like other ornamental grasses, prune them during dormancy in February. 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. Mexican feather grass survives in dry conditions and thrives just fine after being cut back. Selecting the Location . Mexican feather grass. Nassella tenuissima nah-SELL-a ten-yew-ISS-ih-mah. Can tolerate drought when established as well as regular water. All rights reserved. It is named for its mounding form that is dense enough to hide baby fawns in the North American wild. In a few locations it may be found on seasonal stream banks or other wetland areas. Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched. 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. Mexican feather grass, also called pony tails, is a superb grass known for its shimmering golden panicles.. Mexican feather grass facts. Mexican Feather Grass is loved for its graceful, delicate and fine texture – it grows out in a cascade like a beautiful fountain. Name – Stipa tenuifolia Family – Poaceae Type – perennial, grass. Press the seed into the soil and lightly cover. In some cases, the centers of the grass clumps will have died out and need to be removed. Occasionally, Mexican feather grass is sold … Its bright green foliage resembles delicate filaments that arise in elegant, vase-like clumps and spill outward like a soft fountain. Rhexia - a genus of plants in the family Melastomataceae. Plant Mexican feather grass in well-drained soil, near other xeric plants. The flowers are silky awns that appear in June and change from green to gold as they mature. In a residential or commercial landscape it provides beautiful tufts of arching … Every gardener must look for the required information on this plant before planting it. Some native plant organizations consider it invasive. Water to establish it. Deer grass. © California Native Plant Society. The importance of Deer Grass is high as its benefits are more and so are Deer Grass Facts. Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella or Stipa tenuissima) is a wildly popular ornamental grass used by home gardeners and landscape design professionals. 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. Many native grasses and other species have become dominated by woody native plants, including creosote bush and mesquite, due to overgrazing and other urbanization. Mexican feather grass is also a good choice for erosion control on exposed hillsides. Leaves are bright green with slender yellow or purple flower spikes in autumn. 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. The effect is especially striking when several plants are grouped together. 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. In summer, feathery plumes will emerge from the grass, turning from green to golden as the summer progresses. It does not spread by the roots, but it does sometimes spread from seed, so remove seedlings you do not want before they mature. In addition, the mexican food you will enjoy while there is superb. Native to Texas and Mexico, this grass has very fine green foliage which is extremely delicate and soft in appearance. Give it sun or part shade. Hardy to USDA Zone 7 (0-10 F°). Plant in fall or spring. Mexican Feather Stipa tenuissima Grass seeds,are a beautiful mounded ornamental grass with needle-like flexible leaves forms dense, bright green clumps. Start the seed indoors 4 – 6 weeks before the end of frost season. Buy Mexican Feather Grass online. All summer it bears a profusion of feathery panicles, which mature from foamy-green to blonde. 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. This will not only add expertise to your gardening hobby, but it will also help you understand its characteristics. 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*. Mexico offers some legendary mule deer hunting, especially during the rut in December and January. Prefers sun but can grow in shade. … It is considered deer resistant. 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. Ornamental grasses offer several benefits for Arizona gardeners. A great looking smaller grass that is similar in appearance but about half the size of California Deer Grass … Its graceful mounding habit and fine-texture, semi-evergreen foliage is a welcome addition to dry landscapes. Deer Resistant Native Grasses. This is a waterwise plant! 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. Mexican feather grass is one of the loveliest of all the ornamental grasses, and retains its beauty from spring until early winter. Excessive irrigation or flooding rain, especially in heavy soils, will rot its roots. This sun-loving plant grows 18 to 24 inches tall and, once established, is relatively drought resistant. 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. Great xeriscape native plant choice for Arizona. 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. The grass clump will be overgrown, possibly encroaching on neighboring plants or creeping out beyond the border or edge. Deer know no border and tend to feed on any suitable plant they think is tasty. This is a waterwise plant! It prefers a full sun location and well-drained soil. 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. They’re great planted in masses, to add soft texture that sways with every breeze. Mexican Feather Grass is easy to grow, and it is usually not eaten by rabbits or deer. Once established, deer grass tolerates drought and thrives on only 15 inches of water per year. Not everyone has acres of land available or access to land that they can work with. This produces lots of seeds, and soon you could have many more! Nassella (Stipa) tenuissima - Mexican Feather Grass, Texas Needle Grass is native to the Soutwestern United States. Now, however, there are four more Mexico-specific whitetail categories, essentially following the “regional grouping” model used in Canada and the U.S. 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? Best to leave seeds on plants for birds and protect root system. It's no wonder this ornamental grass has been enthusiastically … Botanical Name: Mullenbergia rigens. Mexican feather grass grows to about 18 inches to two feet tall and a foot or two wide. 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. Plants occur in New Mexico, west Texas and in Mexico, Chile and Argentina. Despite the spectacular blooms, deer grass … The Mexican wolf, once abundant, was nearly extinct and remains on the endangered species list. It is considered deer resistant. Plant Characteristics . Often other species such as coues deer or desert sheep can be hunted as well. … 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. In Leander, Ellen and Rick Bickling turned the kids’ old basketball court into square foot | watch episode →, Let’s get growing native fruit trees! Pink Muhly grass Muhlenbergia capillaris. Top: Getting the brown blades out of blue oat grass Bottom: Mexican feather grass before, a month after, and three months after pruning. Tolerates Serpentine Soil. Most hunts are conducted utilizing high racks to see the deer over the brush. Yet even the most easy-going of grasses need periodic attention to perform their best. Climate. Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) i s a no-brainer: native, adaptable, wildlife food source and shelter. Deer Grass, Muhlenbergia rigens, is actually a deer resistant ornamental species. All summer, it bears abundant feathery panicles, which are held a little above the foliage and can be used in dried arrangements. This feathery, small clumping grass is perfect for the waterwise garden! In southern California and along the central coast it is found in sandy gravelly places, canyons, and washes as part of the chaparral community. So, it’s a smaller grass that works well to texturize other plants in your low-water garden. This is often the most limiting factor for hunters. A cool season grass that will stay evergreen in cooler climates. Note that several of the Deer Grass clumps in the photo at right (3 years after planting) are still vigorous, while others need attention. Seed eating birds will be attracted to it in summer, Tolerant of sand and clay. Foliage is less than 1/8” wide and up to 12” long. Keep that row cover ready! This tough plant adds graceful movement and long-lasting texture to potted gardens from early spring until frost. A North American native, Mexican feather grass has an upright habit with silky looking seed heads appearing in the summer. Plants are useful to human beings in innumerable ways. Deer Grass. Why is Mel Bartholomew’s innovative square foot gardening concept so valuable today? Reaches up to 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Plants are hardy from USDA Zones 6-9. Very drought tolerant. Do not protect plants with plastic! Height – 1 ½ feet (50 cm) Exposure – full sun Soil – ordinary, well drained. No other grass exhibits quite the refinement of texture as this species. Name: Deer Grass. If you can contain it, though, this grass is quite lovely, especially when it blows in the wind. Hardiness zones Sunset 2-24 USDA 7-11. Foliage: evergreen Blooming: May to October. Collect leaves from neighbors to add to compost pile! In spring, Mexican feather grass can brighten up any landscape with its bright green color. 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. You can then divide the clump again, and replant them, … The plant is characterized by dense, tufted basal foliage consisting of narrow … Water to establish it. You may find this quality endearing, especially if you have some empty spaces you want to fill in. Talk to neighbors, family and friends to see what works for them or choose from these deer-resistant ornamental grass for your landscape. Mexican Feather Grass is native to rocky open slopes, dry woods with shallow rocky soils, grasslands and forest clearings. 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. It has no pests or diseases, and it grows into dense clumps that stay where you put them. Excessive irrigation or flooding rain, especially in heavy soils, will rot its roots. Stipa tenuissima forms upright tufted mounds of fine textured hair-like foliage. 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. Plus it is extremely drought tolerant adding to its allure. These large mammals move into gardens and yards more as their natural habitat is lost. Little supplemental irrigation required but can handle more regular irrigation if soil drains well. So, it’s a smaller grass that works well to texturize other plants in your low-water garden. After that, water sparingly, during the driest of times. Native from California to Texas and south into Mexico. Mar 16, 2012 - There are ornamental grasses deer won't eat. A dense tight clump with an upright growth habit. Plant deer grass in full sun and water regularly during the first month. After that, water sparingly, during the driest of times. Mexican feather grass grows to about 18 inches to two feet tall and a foot or two wide. 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. The first thing to consider when establishing wildlife food plots is location. 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. Description. These is best done in early spring, before new growth appears. Mexican Feather Grass has fairly good hardiness to cold yet it performs well with the intense heat of summer. 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. Many ornamental grasses tolerate drought and will grow well in hot, dry Arizona gardens. While most gardeners want to keep deer and other wildlife away from their plants, this form of gardening attempts the opposite. Plant Category: Grasses. It produces soft blonde seed stalks in late spring through summer. You can also call on Mexican feather grass when planting containers for hot, dry locations. 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