Muhlenbergia expansa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mew-len-BERG-gee-uh ek-SPAN-sa
- Description
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Savanna Hairgrass is a native warm-season bunchgrass found in moist to wet soils in pitcher plant bogs, pine savannahs and flat woodland areas, usually in acidic sandy soils in the coastal regions of the southwestern U.S.A.. This plant is grazed by cattle, sheep, and other herbivores. Growth can be controlled by fire.
Use this plant in native coastal gardens in wet to boggy sites.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Muhlenbergia
- Species:
- expansa
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A., Texas
- Distribution:
- AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Seeds are eaten by sparrows and other birds
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- The seedhead is open and delicate with a purple panicle 14 to 20 inches long August-November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom September-October and are pink in color.
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Leaves:
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaf blade is 12 to 14 inches long, narrow, wiry, tough, twists slightly at maturity and margins fold or roll inward. The leaf sheath is rounded, mostly basal and curls into fibrous mass at maturity.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil