Pink Muhly Grass

Muhlenbergia capillaris (mew-len-BERG-ee-ah kap-il-LAIR-iss)

Family: Poaceae Native Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

Muhly grass is native to the central and eastern parts of the United States and south to Mexico and Guatemala. This grass is found naturally in clay or thin rocky soils, especially in those soils that were formerly burned and prairie-like. They are also found in open woodlands, savannas, dry woodlands, and the mountains around rock outcrops. It is a member of the grass family (Poaceae). The specific epithet is Latin and means “hair-like.” Muhly grass is an easy-to-grow grass. It is unfussy about soil type, as long as it is well-drained. Give it plenty of sunshine for the best floral display. Muhly grass tolerates heat, humidity, drought, and poor soil and is highly salt-tolerant. It is adaptable to home or commercial landscapes. Muhly grass is an absolute showstopper source of late-season color. This perennial is attractive individually but makes a big show when used in a mass planting. Delicate pink flowers mature on long, narrow, wiry leaves in the fall. The grass produces tiny, purplish seeds. Pink muhly grass can reach a height of 4 feet and a width of 3 feet. As a native ornamental grass, it is a great complement to those landscape beds with fading summer annuals. A North American native, pink muhly grass is an excellent landscape plant. Long-lived, with little to no insect or disease pests, and highly resistant to deer grazing, this ornamental grass is perfect for the low-maintenance garden. Plant in groups or masses for fall season color. It can be used in any garden style, as a ground cover, mass planting or border. Quick ID Hints: clumping warm-season perennial grass wiry, thread-like, dark green leaves and stems from 2 to 3 feet tall pink to pinkish-red, airy, open blooms appear to float above the foliage in the fall tan seed plumes add winter interest Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : Muhly grass had no serious insect or disease issues. Muhlygrass mealybug is becoming more of an issue in NC. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology,” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ Reconciled to full toolbox: matched by slug to slug 'muhlenbergia-capillaris'. Identity (id/common/scientific name) preserved from the original 87-plant Hunnicutt set; attribute data refreshed from the 61-attribute toolbox scrape.