Meet the Muhly Grass
Muhly Grass | Muhlenbergia capillaris
How do you know it’s me?:
I am a perennial, ornamental grass with a clumping and mounding / upright form.
I have wiry, cord-like stems and narrow, pointed, alternate leaves that are almost indistinguishable from my stems.
My fall blooms are pink to purple in color, and rise above my foliage to create a haze of color. There is also a white-blooming variety. Each bloom is made up of many fine-textured flowers.
My blooms fade to tan and persist through the winter.
How big do I grow?: 2’ - 3’ height and spread.
Sun-seeker or shade-lover: Full sun. I can live in partial shade, but will not bloom well or be as upright.
Where I prefer to put my roots: Medium to dry soils. I am right at home in sandy and rocky soils, and am tolerant of salt.
Hardiness: Zone 5-9.
Original home: I am native to the central and eastern United States, and Mexico.
Colors: Pink or purplish blooms. A white-colored variety is also available.
When I bloom: Fall.
Wildlife friends: I attract butterflies and my tiny seeds are consumed by both birds and small mammals.
Flora Fun Facts: I attract beneficial insects to the garden, including the ladybug - a natural predator to harmful garden pests like aphids and mealybugs.
More Info: For much of the year, this ornamental grass persists as a green spiked ball, but as the weather cools, a cloud of tiny, dancing, pink/purple flowers burst above each grassy clump. When grouped together, the haze of color can be vibrant - delicate plumes that float above the leaves.
The specific epithet “capillaris” means fine or “hair-like.”
A member of the Poaceae (Grass) family.
It is highly recommended that this grass be planted in mass plantings, where the blooms can have the greatest visual impact.
A great selection for a native garden, dry garden, meadow planting, or against a light-colored backdrop (like a fence).
For best blooming, cut back (to 3”-5” tall) in early spring after the birds have had a chance to enjoy the seeds.
Named for Gotthilf Muhlenberg, a minister and botanist who made great advances in the study of plants native to America.
