Purple Muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Purple Muhly:
Previously known as:
- Podosemum capillare
- Stipa capillaris
- Trichochloa capillaris
- Phonetic Spelling
- mew-len-BERG-ee-ah kap-il-LAIR-iss
- Description
-
Muhly grass is an absolute showstopper source of late-season color. As a native ornamental grass, it is a great complement 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.
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.
The genus, Muhlenbergia, was named after Gotthilf Muhlenberg, a botanist, chemist, and mineralogist. He is credited with classifying and naming at least 150 species of plants in his Index Flora Lancastriensis, published in 1785. He lived from 1753-1815. The specific epithet, capillaris, means fine or hair-like.
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. Give it plenty of sunshine and transplant it into well-drained soil.
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, and poor soil and is highly salt tolerant. It is adaptable to home or commercial landscapes. Plant in groups or masses for fall season color.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Fall Foliage: Summer and Fall
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 insects or disease issues.
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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Retaining Wall Garden Children's Secret Garden at Wilson Botanical Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lenca'
- 'Regal Mist"'
- 'White Cloud'
Upright, open, airy white flowers, bloom after pink, resistant to tar spot
- 'Lenca'
- 'Lenca', 'Regal Mist"', 'White Cloud'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lenca'
- 'Regal Mist"'
- 'White Cloud'
Upright, open, airy white flowers, bloom after pink, resistant to tar spot
- 'Lenca'
- 'Lenca', 'Regal Mist"', 'White Cloud'
- Tags:
-
-
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:
- United States: AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV; Bahamas, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides excellent cover year-round. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals. Attracts butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 4 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant 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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- 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:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Seed is in the form of grain, and the tan seed plumes are attractive through the winter. The seed fruits are inconspicuous, small, dry, hard, oval, and available from September through November.
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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
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Airy inflorescence often colored pink, purplish red, or purplish gray; dries to a light buff; up to 12 inches long. Flowers bloom from September through November.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are green, linear, simple, alternate, and measure 18 to 36 inches long with entire margins. Fine-textured basal foliage
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Heat
- Humidity
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Salt