I live in Orange County next to Chino Hills State Park. I planted some Mexican feather grass, Nassella tenuissima, because it is so attractive. Now,unfortunately, it is spreading(reseeding)among my native plants and I need to uproot it. I am concerned it may spread to the State Park. I do not think this grass should be planted in So Cal, especially if it gets some water.

Thanks for the shout-out, Sharon. I just wanted to add, regarding CanyonNative's comment, that Mexican feathergrass is not on the list of invasive plants in central Texas, and I haven't seen evidence of it escaping into the greenbelts here. My former garden is urban and surrounded by a sea of neighboring lawns. That feathergrass wasn't going anywhere. Farther afield, particularly next to greenbelts, as CanyonNative is, a gardener would be wise to be cautious in the use of aggressive plants.

Thanks also for the link love on my holiday post. Happy holidays from Texas!

Thank you both for your comments. Mexican feather grass is definitely not for every garden. See our previous post in which we discussed this: http://freshdirt.sunset.com/2008/11/should-mexican.html.

I have not found it to be invasive in the SW, including Southern California, CanyonNative. But if you live close to wilderness, I do think it is conscientious to be extra prudent. Why don't you pull it out and plant Nasella pulchra instead. It's not as flashy but it is a California native and I am finding it looks rather sweet and totally appropriate with my salvias and buckwheat and erigeron, etc.

I'm glad I got the comments started. Nassella tenuissima seems perfectly suited for Texas and New Mexico. It is a grass of concern in Australia. I know it is not listed on Cal-IPC, but it certainly has been too agressive in my own yard.

Yes, I have planted numerous native grasses: Melica imperfecta, Muhlenbergia rigens, Nassella pulchra, N. lepida, and N. cernua. I especially like the foothill needle grass.

Thanks, Sunset, for providing such a wealth of ideas and information to Western gardeners.

I live in San Luis Obispo. My sister gave me a Mexican feather grass four years ago and I totally fell in love with it...until it self-seeded all over my front yard and my neighbors' as well. I am STILL finding seedlings popping up occasionally. Four blocks away a neighbor planted a dozen in his front yard. When they went to seed they spread to ALL of his neighbors and are growing in the sidewalk cracks.

Yes. N. tenuissima has fallen out of favor with most respectable designers in the Southwest due to its in-garden invasiveness. Designers who plant this don't do their clients (or their client's gardeners) any favors by planting this pest.

Its likely only a matter of time before we start seeing it wildlands.