Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails, known as Stipa tenuissima or Mexican Feather Grass, is a perennial ornamental grass native to the Americas. PanAmerican developed this cultivar that offers needlike green foliage with an upright habit of 16-24" tall and 24" wide, and green flowers that mature to golden in July. Well-suited to mixed containers and landscape beds and borders, Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails flourishes in full sun and is perennial in zone 6-10. For a unique ornamental grass, try growing Juncus Fuseables Twisted Arrows.
Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails Selling Tips
Sell Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails to customers looking for color contrast or foliage to add to a mixed container or landscape border. This plant offers needlike green foliage and silky green flowers that mature to golden. This upright grass is well-suited to mixed containers, landscape beds, and patio pots, bringing delicate texture to the landscape year-round in zone 6-10. Create a visually rich garden by pairing Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails with Agastache, Lavender, Echinacea, Sedum, Verbena, Achillea, Salvia, Penstemon, Allium, Aubrieta, and Dianthus.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 61-91" apart in well-drained soil in full sun.
2. Water once or twice a week or more in dry weather.
3. In climates colder than zone 6, remove plants after frost or overwinter containers in a protected area.
General Growing Tips For Your Seedling Tray
For best results with Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails, grow one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container or one to three per 6-inch or gallon container. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-6.2, EC of 1.2-1.5 mS/cm, temperatures of 62-74 daytime and 59-64 nighttime, and moderate feed (175-225 ppm N). Use a nitrate-based fertilizer with low phosphorus and don't use too much ammonia or a nitrogen fertilizer. Overfeeding and too much water lead to floppy plants. This plant doesn't require pinching or PGRs. Watch for aphids.
Flowering
Green flowers bloom in July, maturing to gold.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
We recommend spacing 4-inch containers 12-18" apart and gallon containers 18-24" apart for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant. Adjust spacing as needed in your greenhouse.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs.
Pests
Scout for aphids as part of your greenhouse's Integrated Pest Management program. Prevention and early intervention are the best methods of pest control.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cause damage by sucking sap from plant tissue. They reproduce quickly and are particularly attracted to young growth. Curling and yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and stickiness on leaves are signs of an infestation. These insects also spread diseases and reproduce rapidly. Use biological controls or horticultural oils to discourage and kill aphids.
Disease
Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails isn't prone to disease. Root rot can occur in overly wet conditions. Use well-draining soil, water at the base of each plant in the morning, and provide good airflow in your greenhouse.
Root Rot occurs in poorly drained or overly wet soil, which becomes the host for several types of fungi. It causes stunted growth, wilting, and root system decay. Prevention is the best treatment, and you will avoid most root rot problems by using clean, well-draining media, appropriate containers, and good watering practices for finishing seedling plugs. Inspect plants for signs of disease regularly. Repot infected plants in well-draining soil, adjust your watering schedule, provide better airflow, and use a fungicide if needed.
Planting Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails Liners
We recommend growing one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container or three per 6-inch or gallon container. Use well-drained soil and center or evenly space the seedling plugs in the containers.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Stipa Colorgrass Pony Tails Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 6-7 Weeks |
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| Bloom Period | Year Round |
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| Color | Green |
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| Habit | Upright |
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| Height | 16-24 Inches |
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| Light | Full Sun |
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| Minimum Temp | 59 |
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| Perennial Zone | 6-10 |
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| Water Needs | Moderate |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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