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Mexican Feather Grass and Eastern Redbud


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Tree  
Grass  

Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Canada  
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico  

Types
Cercis  
Nassella tenuissima  

Number of Varieties
25  
99+
15  
99+

Habitat
Bluffs, stream banks, Wet forest, Woods  
driveways, open Woodlands, Roadsides, Rocky areas, Slopes, tree wells  

USDA Hardiness Zone
3-9  
6-10  

AHS Heat Zone
9-6  
11 - 4  

Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20  
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  

Habit
Oval or Rounded  
Clump-Forming  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
760.00 cm  
99+
50.80 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
760.00 cm  
29
55.90 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
White, Purple, Pink, Light Pink  
-  

Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
Brown, Chocolate  
-  

Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Plum  
Green, Light Green  

Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green  
Light Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Yellow green  
Green, Yellow green, Tan  

Leaf Color in Winter
-  
Green, Yellow green, Gold, Tan  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped  
Linear  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun, Partial Sun  

Growth Rate
Medium  
Medium  

Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Drainage
Well drained  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring  
Early Summer, Summer  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
No  

Tolerances
Dry soil, Salt, Soil Compaction, Wet Site  
Drought  

Care

Where to Plant?
Ground  
Ground  

How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting  
Seedlings  

Plant Maintenance
Low  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer  
Do not water excessively  

In Summer
Lots of watering  
Lots of watering  

In Spring
Ample Water  
Moderate  

In Winter
Average Water  
Average Water  

Soil
  
  

Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam, Sand  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun  
Full Sun, Partial Sun  

Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove hanging branches  
Requires little pruning  

Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, slow-release fertilizers  
Apply 12-6-6 fertilizer  

Pests and Diseases
Caterpillars, Red blotch, Scale  
Red blotch  

Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Salt, Soil Compaction, Wet Site  
Drought  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
Yes  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
Yes  
No  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
No  

Showy Foliage
Yes  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Medium  
Fine  

Foliage Sheen
Glossy  
Matte  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
Sometimes  

Self-Sowing
Yes  
Yes  

Attracts
Birds  
-  

Allergy
Mild Allergen  
-  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes  
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes, small hedge  

Beauty Benefits
-  
-  

Edible Uses
Yes  
No  

Environmental Uses
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree  
Air purification  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
Astringent, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Fever, Leukemia  
-  

Part of Plant Used
Bark, Buds, Flowers, Seeds  
Leaves  

Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as firewood, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for woodware  
Used as Ornamental plant  

Used As Indoor Plant
Yes  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Shade Trees  
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
CERCIS canadensis  
NASSELLA tenuissima  

Common Name
Eastern Redbud  
Finestem Needlegrass, Mexican Feather Grass  

In Hindi
Eastern Redbud  
Mexican Feather Grass  

In German
OstRedbud  
Mexikanische Federgras  

In French
Redbud Orient  
Mexicaine Herbe Feather  

In Spanish
Eastern Redbud  
Pluma hierba mexicana  

In Greek
Ανατολική κουτσουπιά  
Μεξικού Αστραπή Grass  

In Portuguese
Redbud oriental  
Mexican Pena Relva  

In Polish
Redbud wschodniej  
Mexican Feather trawy  

In Latin
Cercis  
Mexicanus Pluma Grass  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Tracheophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Liliopsida  

Order
Fabales  
Cyperales  

Family
Fabaceae  
Poaceae  

Genus
Cercis  
Nassella  

Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots  

Tribe
Cercideae  
Stipeae  

Subfamily
Caesalpiniaceae  
-  

Number of Species
10  
99+
116  
99+

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