Mexican feather grass vs Prairie dropseed
Both are fine, fountain-shaped grasses for sun and dry soil. Mexican feather grass is the finer, with hair-thin leaves and silky blond heads that move in the slightest breeze, but it is hardy only to about zone 7 and seeds so freely in mild, dry climates that it has escaped from gardens in California. Prairie dropseed is a native of the prairies, hardy to zone 3, slow and long-lived, with late-summer flowers that smell of coriander or popcorn, and gold autumn colour.
 Mexican feather grassNassella tenuissima |  Prairie dropseedSporobolus heterolepis | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 20 in tall, 18 in wide | 2½ ft tall, 2½ ft wide |
| Plant | 16 in apart | 24 in apart |
| Zones | 7 to 10 | 3 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun |
| Soil | Dry and sharply drained, lean fertility | Dry and sharply drained, lean fertility |
| Flowers | Early June to late July; tan | Mid August to mid September; tan |
| Leaves | Fine, semi-evergreen | Fine, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Weaver | Drift |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | Resistant | Resistant |
| Native | Yes | Yes |
| Spread | High risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose Mexican feather grass for warmer gardens (to zone 10) and a smaller space (20 in against 2½ ft).
- Choose prairie dropseed for colder gardens (to zone 3) and more height (2½ ft against 20 in).
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. What prairie dropseed brings beside Mexican feather grass: takes over when it finishes, flowering from mid August; happy in the same dry soil. They share full sun and zones 7 to 9.
Read more: all about Mexican feather grass, and all about prairie dropseed, each with a bed the planner designed around it.