feather grass

American  

noun

1. any American grass of the genus Stipa, having a feathery appendage.

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feather grass British  

noun

1. a perennial grass, Stipa pennata, native to the steppes of Europe and N Asia, cultivated as an ornament for its feathery inflorescence

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Etymology

Origin of feather grass

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

Giant feather grass is not fussy about soil and, once established, doesn’t require any supplemental water during summer dry months.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 7, 2023

Nassella tenuissima, or Mexican feather grass, grows low, finely tufted green ponytails that flower into fluffy flaxen strands of 2 feet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2018

Many front lawns now feature undulating feather grass and pots filled with spiny succulents, neither of which need much water.

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2015

Indeed, as cities, counties and water districts put together helpful drought-tolerant plant lists for consumers, invasives such as the feather grass will sometimes be included, and the municipalities themselves will plant them.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2015

The soil is sandy and gravelly glacial till which will raise little else beside feather grass and sumac.

From Northern Nut Growers Association, report of the proceedings at the eighth annual meeting Stamford, Connecticut, September 5 and 6, 1917 by Northern Nut Growers Association