Muhlenbergia capillaris
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mew-len-BERG-ee-ah kap-il-LAIR-iss
- Description
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Pink muhly grass is an absolute showstopper source of late-season color. As an ornamental grass, it is a great compliment to those landscape beds with fading summer annuals. The delicate plumes of flower panicles create a striking pink haze above the dark green, glossy foliage.
This perennial is attractive individually but really makes a big show when used in a mass planting. Pink muhly grass can reach a height of 4 feet and a width of 3 feet. Give it plenty of sunshine and transplant into soil that is well drained.
A North American native, pink muhly grass sounds too good to be true. 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. Muhly grass tolerates heat, humidity, drought, poor soil and is highly salt tolerant.
Delicate pink flowers mature on long, narrow, wiry leaves in the fall. The grass produces tiny, purplish seeds.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lenca'
- 'Lenca'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lenca'
- 'Lenca'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Muhlenbergia
- Species:
- capillaris
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A. to Guatemala and Caribbean
- Distribution:
- Massachusetts to Kansas south to Florida and Texas
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides excellent cover year-round. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grass
- Perennial
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Seed is in the form of a grain.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Airy inflorescence often colored pink, purplish red, purplish gray; drys to a light buff; up to 12 inches long
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Fine-textured basal foliage
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Salt
