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