Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails' – A Graceful Grass for Soft, Flowing Texture in the Garden
Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails', also known as Mexican Feather Grass, is a striking ornamental grass that adds a soft, airy texture to gardens and landscapes. With its delicate, wispy, and feathery appearance, this cultivar creates a stunning visual effect, swaying gently in the breeze. Known for its elegant, arching foliage and distinctive seed heads, 'Pony Tails' is perfect for adding movement and lightness to borders, meadow plantings, and containers. This drought-tolerant grass is a favourite in both modern and naturalistic garden designs, offering year-round beauty with minimal maintenance.
Seasonal Beauty & Growth
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Spring/Summer: In the spring and summer, Stipa 'Pony Tails' emerges with fine, bright green foliage that forms dense clumps. The long, slender leaves gradually arch and sway, creating a soft, fountain-like effect. In mid to late summer, the grass produces airy, golden flower heads that float gracefully above the foliage, resembling a mass of fine feathers. These feathery seed heads continue to develop throughout the summer, adding movement and texture to the garden.
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Autumn: As autumn approaches, the seed heads of 'Pony Tails' turn a pale golden colour, becoming more pronounced and providing a striking contrast against the foliage. The plant’s delicate structure remains attractive, even as the grass transitions into its winter form.
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Winter: During the winter months, the graceful seed heads persist, providing winter interest and structure in the garden. The faded, straw-like appearance of the grass adds texture to the landscape, especially in gardens with a more minimalist or natural aesthetic. 'Pony Tails' can be left standing through the winter for added winter interest, or cut back to ground level in early spring to make way for new growth.
Structure & Form
Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails' has a finely textured, arching growth habit that reaches a height of approximately 60–90cm (2–3ft), with a spread of 45–60cm (1.5–2ft). The grass forms a neat, clump-like structure, with slender, narrow leaves that grow in a fountain-like shape. Its airy, soft flower heads are light and feathery, adding a touch of elegance and movement to any planting. The plant's fine texture and flowing form make it an excellent choice for informal or naturalistic gardens, as well as for mixed borders or as a filler plant in meadows and wildflower gardens.
Ideal for Various Landscapes
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Meadow & Prairie Gardens: Stipa 'Pony Tails' is perfect for creating the soft, flowing look of a wildflower meadow or prairie-style garden. Its airy texture and graceful form blend beautifully with other grasses and perennials, adding depth and movement.
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Mixed Borders & Herbaceous Gardens: In mixed borders, this ornamental grass pairs well with flowering plants, such as Echinacea (Coneflower), Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), or Lavender, adding a contrasting texture and softness to more structured plants.
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Rock & Gravel Gardens: This compact grass is ideal for adding texture to rock gardens or gravel plantings. Its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor soil make it perfect for these low-maintenance, xeriscape-style gardens.
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Containers & Patio Gardens: Stipa 'Pony Tails' is well-suited to container gardening. Its graceful, flowing appearance makes it an excellent choice for adding texture and movement to balcony or patio containers. It pairs well with other grasses or flowering plants for a dynamic display.
Growing Conditions & Care
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Position: 'Pony Tails' thrives in full sun, where it will produce the best flower heads and maintain its airy, flowing texture. It can tolerate light partial shade, although flowering may be reduced in shadier areas. This grass prefers bright, sunny locations that highlight its feathery seed heads.
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Soil: This ornamental grass is highly adaptable and will grow in a wide range of well-drained soil types. It prefers light, sandy, or loamy soils and is well-suited to dry, poor soils. Stipa 'Pony Tails' does not like wet, heavy soils, so ensuring good drainage is essential for its health.
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Hardiness: Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails' is hardy in USDA zones 6–9, making it suitable for temperate and mild climates. It is fairly tolerant of drought and can thrive in conditions with minimal water once established. However, it may require some protection during particularly harsh winters in colder regions, or it may be grown as an annual in areas with frost.
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Maintenance: This grass is low-maintenance and easy to care for. Once established, it requires minimal watering and is highly drought-tolerant. To keep the plant looking its best, trim back the old foliage and seed heads in early spring, just before new growth begins. This will encourage fresh, vibrant growth and prevent the grass from becoming too untidy.
Why Choose Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails'?
Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails' is an elegant and graceful ornamental grass that adds lightness and movement to any garden. Its feathery, golden seed heads and arching, silvery-green foliage make it a standout plant for a variety of garden styles. It is easy to grow and low-maintenance, thriving in full sun and well-drained soils. Whether used in mixed borders, rock gardens, or as a statement plant in containers, Stipa 'Pony Tails' is a perfect choice for adding texture, movement, and beauty to your garden.
Perfect Plant Combinations
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Grasses & Perennials – Pair with other ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus (Maiden Grass), Pennisetum (Fountain Grass), or Carex (Sedge) for a layered effect of flowing textures.
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Flowering Plants – Combine with flowering plants like Echinacea (Coneflower), Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan), or Achillea (Yarrow) to add colour and contrast to the soft, airy texture of the grass.
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Cottage & Meadow Gardens – Stipa 'Pony Tails' blends beautifully with wildflowers like Lavatera (Mallow), Coreopsis (Tickseed), and Salvia for a naturalistic, meadow-inspired planting scheme.
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Rock & Xeriscape Gardens – Combine with other drought-tolerant plants like Sedum, Thyme, or Lavender to create a water-wise, low-maintenance garden with contrasting textures.
Stipa tenuissima 'Pony Tails' is a versatile and attractive ornamental grass that brings a sense of movement and lightness to any garden. With its graceful, feathery seed heads and fine-textured foliage, it’s the perfect choice for creating a soft, flowing aesthetic in borders, meadows, or containers. Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, it is easy to care for and thrives in sunny, well-drained locations, adding beauty and elegance year-round.
Does the height include the pot?
No, we measure from the top of the pot to the tip of the plant except for some of the instant planted screens, in this case it will be stated in the description
How long does delivery take?
Most orders are delivered in just a few days, Smaller items are often sent with Parcelforce on a next day service, Larger items should allow up to 10 days due to the size of the items they often have to be sent on our own transport.
Where will you leave my plants?
We will leave your order at the front of your property, Parcelforce may
leave your items in a safe place if you let us know, Pallet couriers
will require a flat hard surface to deliver to, no gravel or soil, a
driveway or parking spot would be best. Most importantly Deliveries by
pallet courier will require access for a large truck (bin lorry sized)
to get near the delivery point. Deliveries sent on our own transport may come in a small van or larger truck.
