Nasella tenuissima
Mexican feather grass
Poaceae

Characteristics: Attractive, thin blades (tenuous refers to the thin blades) with a purple accent from its flowers. Will add movement to a garden with a nice breeze. A good, manageable size, it grows in tufts. Wind pollinated flowers, the fruit is a grain attached to an awn that coils when wet, and falls over in a delicate, silky way. Inexpensive and fast growing.

Growing conditions: This is a warm garden perennial or a cold-garden bedding grass. Hardy only to zone 8, it can only take -10ºC hard frost. Vancouver’s wet weather prevents this from becoming invasive.

Limitations: Invasive in drier, hotter climates (i.e. California).