PlantFiles: Silky Thread Grass, Mexican Feather Grass, Mexican Needle Grass, Pony Tails
Stipa tenuissima

I will agree with most of the aforementioned statements , durable , beautiful and so on . But I also see that it is labeled as INVASIVE . I capitalize that with good reason . Here in the southwest desert and this is not a native plant . I planted 6 of them and now have had 100's of them all over my property (4 acres ) in an area that recieves less than 10 inches of rainfall a year and this stuff is sprouting up with no irragation . More so in areas that does . Once released it will scatter more than likely and add more fuel to already disastrous wildfires .

This grass looks like a clump of hair, dancing in the breeze. Soft green in spring, then turns a soft beige in the hot summer, and I leave it uncut in winter to provide interest. It does re-seed fairly heavily, but unwanted volunteers are easily pulled. I grow it pretty dry in my xeriscape area, in clay loam low in organic material. Survived a dry cold winter quite well. The description says 24-36" height -- I've never seen it get taller than 6-8", even at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Maybe because we grow it dry in the Rockies?

I really loved the look of this grass in our landscape. It grows quite well in the desert southwest with some irrigation. But beware if you have puppies that like to grab at anything that moves. One of our puppies grabbed at some seeds/feathers that had fallen to the ground and nearly choked while trying to swallow them. We were unable to find any in it's mouth to remove, so I don't believe it had very much.
Also, this plant is a favorite of jackrabbits, so it's best grown behind a fenced area or chicken wire.

I grow this grass in a pot, and bring it in for the winter. I also start it in the ground, dig it up, and bring it into the house to overwinter. That way, I get the lovely bloom although my season is too short for it to bloom outdoors. Last year's pot plant is blooming no - in early April, in my sunroom.

this was one of the first plants I put in my new garden because it is so beautiful in the wind and I am in a windy area. It did very well even through our cold winter but I fear I have baby's all around it! will try and transplant them to my other garden. did well in composted heavy clay and was watered by drip only once a week even in hot weather.

Other common names for this grass that is native to California, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico, and Argentina: ponytail grass, horsetail grass, horse tail grass, hair grass, angel hair grass, angelhair grass, finestem needlegrass

I have grown Mexican feather grass in a large container and did not have a reseeding problem; however, this may be atypical. It appears it will self-sow more prolifically in moist areas and is not as bothersome in dry locations. It mysteriously died sabout 5 years ago. This spring, a new plant emerged in the container in which the old plant had been growing. I am extremely happy that I have been blessed with this gift because I had missed the plant very much after it died.

My comment is postive based on growability in the Central Valley of California. The only thing I don't care for, my wife loves it, is it sows itself all over the place. Otherwise a very durable plant.

San Antonio, Tx.
One is growing in a huge container and from the top it looks almost like a huge green wig. I bought it at Walmart as a small plant and it has grown quite rapidly. Its blades blow in the wind so gracefully that it provides a soothing effect. It has withstood 22 degree nights in the winter and 108 degrees for 2 days this summer.

The hardiness of this grass seems to depend on the age. Clumps that have not flowered are much hardier, making this a biennial for me. Usually the clumps that have flowered do not survive the winter.

The flower stalks and seeds are very sticky so that seeding around is very common.

Seeds sprout in mid to late spring outdoors.