Muhly grass in November at NC Arboretum in Asheville

For most of the season Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grows pretty much unnoticed. Muhly exhibits a semi- erect growth habit, 3-4 feet in height and 3-4 feet in spread. 

Walking past a pink billowy inflorescences of Muhly on a brisk sunny October morning is nothing short of “wow”. For 10- 12 weeks, from early September thru late November, a pink haze arises 12 inches or more above the narrow bladed green foliage. Muhly stands up well to rainfall and early frost. By late autumn the vibrant purple to pink hues gradually fade to beige.

Muhly grows best in full or partial sunlight (6- hour minimum) in average moist well-drained soil. Its native range extends from southern New England to southern Florida, west to Texas. Mulhy prospers in dry, gravely, often poor soils. Muhly stalls out in wet soggy winter soils.

Selecting a hardy seed source is very important. Muhly is marginally hardy in zone 6. Buy plants or seeds from a nursery which has checked on seed provenance. Foliage is semi-evergreen in parts of zone 7 and further south. Old growth should be cut back to 5-6 inches above ground in late winter.

Plant Muhly as a single specimen or group several for a larger display in a garden border or meadow setting.  Muhly does not aggressively spread to other areas of the garden.

Three cultivars: Pink Cloud™ (shorter 2 ft. height, pink inflorescence); White Cloud ™ (4-5 ft. tall, more upright habit, and white inflorescence); and Regal Mist™ (3-4 ft. height, dusky pink inflorescence)