Muhly Grass

Muhlenbergia

* photo of unknown internet source

Muhlenbergia capillaris ( Pink Muhly Grass )
A long-lived, clump-forming hardy perennial grass reaching up to 5 x 6.5 ( rarely over 4 ) feet.
Native to southeastern North America ( from eastern Kansas to southern Ohio to Massachusetts; south to central Texas to Louisiana to south Florida ), it is endangered in the wild in Indiana, West Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland, and is extinct in the wild in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Great for urban garden and against white stucco walls. Also a great plant for drought plagued parking lot islands.
The fine textured foliage is wire-like and blue-green to deep green.
The foliage clump is topped from mid-August through October by pink cloud-like inflorescences up to 10 x 8 inches in size. The flower inflorescences are exceptionally beautiful when backlit by the sun. Occasional deep irrigation during late summer will enhance autumn blooming.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( extinct western Massachusetts population was likely hardy to zone 5 ) in full sun on very well drained soil. It is not eaten by deer. Extremely drought, heat, salt and poor soil tolerant. Mostly found on sandy and rocky soils in the wild and does not need much fertilizer. Pests and disease problems are very rare. Cut plants to ground during late winter to make room for fresh new growth.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Oct 24 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on Nov 19 2016 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken on Aug 18 2020 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Oct 22 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Nov 28 2020 in Ellicott City, MD

'Regal Mist'
Reaches up to 4 x 4 feet ( foliage up to 3 x 3 feet ), with spectacular dusky-pink, hazy flower panicles.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun on very well drained soil. It is extremely heat, drought as well as humidity tolerant, making it a great landscape plant for both the desert southwest and the southeastern U.S.

'White Cloud'
Reaches up to 4.5 feet, with deep green foliage and creamy-white, massed, cloud-like plumes throughout autumn. It is among the most beautiful of all ornamental grasses.
Tolerates as low as -5 F.

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on Oct 1 2021 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Oct 31 2022 in Columbia, MD

Muhlenbergia emersleyi 'El Toro' ( Bullgrass )
A very attractive, evergreen, clumping grass, reaching up to 3 x 4 feet. It forms a denser clump than Muhlenbergia rigens. The species is native to hilly oak woodlands in most of Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas.
The coarse foliage is blue-green. The leaves are wider than that of Muhlenbergia rigens.
The showy flower spikes are fluffy and rose-purple, eventually fading to tan.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( the species only hardy to zone 7 ) in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. It is clay tolerant and very drought / heat tolerant. Soak weekly during summer during the first season, biweekly the following summer to establish new plants. Established plants can be soaked every 3 weeks. Deer resistant. Cut clumps back hard during early spring every other year to eliminate thatch.

Muhlenbergia lindheimeri ( Lindheimer Muhly Grass )
A moderate growing, perennial grass, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 5 ( rarely over 2.5 ) feet, that is native to the Edwards Plateau of Texas as well as northern Mexico.
The fountain-like foliage is blue-green. The foliage is deciduous and clumps are cut back hard during early spring.
The purplish, turning to silvery fountain-like plumes, up to 5 feet high, are borne during autumn.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in full sun. Very heat, drought, clay, salt, alkaline soil, mediterranean climate and deer tolerant.

Muhlenbergia 'Pink Flamingo'
A narrow, upright, vigorous hybrid, reaching up to 5 x 4 feet. It is a hybrid between Muehlenbergia rigens and the Gulf Coast Muhly Grass.
The very narrow foliage is blue-green.
The soft pink flower spikes are borne during early autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in full sun on very well drained soil. It is extremely heat, drought as well as humidity tolerant, making it a great landscape plant for both the desert southwest and the southeastern U.S.
Great for the confined urban garden and against white stucco walls.
Also a great plant for drought plagued parking lot islands.
Deer resistant.

* photo taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

Muhlenbergia reverchonii ( Autumn Embers Muhly Grass )
A perennial grass, reaching up to 3 x 2 feet, that is native from southwest Oklahoma to central Texas. It is similar to M. capillaris but is hardier, more compact and denser.
The finely-textured foliage is mid-green. The leaf blades are up to 10 inches long.
The flowers appear in a very attractive pinkish-red, haze during autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in full sun on very well drained soil including clay. It is extremely heat and drought tolerant, making it great for the inner city as well as suburban strip mall landscaping. Considering it's native range, it is very tolerant of the heat + humidity combination found in the southeast. It is highly deer resistant.

'Undaaunted' ( Ruby Muhly Grass )
Reaches up to 3 x 2.5 feet, with pinkish-red plumes.
Hardy zones 4 to 9.

Muhlenbergia rigens ( Deer Grass )
A very attractive, fast growing, ornamental grass, reaching up to 5 x 7 ( rarely over 4 ) feet, forms a dense, evergreen clump of gray-green foliage turning to buff-tan during winter. It is native from northern California to central Texas; south into northern Mexico.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on rich, well drained soil. Extremely adaptable and very drought tolerant. It is not prone to pests or disease. Cut back hard every 3 years to renovate.