About pink muhly grass
Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), also called hairawn muhly, is a clumping native grass best known for its fall flowers. Airy pink to purplish-pink plumes float above fine, arching blue-green to gray-green foliage and create a hazy, cloud-like effect. The plumes fade to tan and often stay on the plant through winter.
Typical size is roughly 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, though some sources list a range of 1 to 3 feet. It is generally listed for USDA zones 6 to 9. It is a warm-season grass, meaning it grows through summer, blooms in fall and goes dormant in winter.
Where to plant it
- Sun: Full sun, meaning about six or more hours a day, gives the best flowering. It tolerates some light shade but may bloom less.
- Soil: Well-drained soil is key. It copes with sandy, loamy and clay soils as long as they do not stay wet, and it tolerates poor soil.
- Spacing: About 2 to 3 feet apart for a mass planting, a little more for larger cultivars. See how far apart to plant ornamental grasses.
It is also resistant to deer and relatively free of pests and diseases. The wildflower, native and low-water uses of muhly fit well in dry borders; for similar plants, see drought-tolerant ornamental grasses for dry sunny gardens.
How to plant
Spring or fall are both suitable. Warm-season grasses generally establish best in spring, and in colder zones some gardeners prefer waiting until spring. If you plant in fall, do it at least a month before the first frost.
- Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.
- If the roots are circling, loosen them gently.
- Set the plant so the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil. Do not bury the crown.
- Backfill, firm lightly to remove air pockets and water thoroughly.
- Mulch lightly (about an inch of organic mulch), keeping it away from the crown. Gravel also works in dry designs; see grasses to grow in a gravel garden.
Watering and feeding
Water regularly through the first growing season so the roots establish. After that, pink muhly is very drought tolerant and needs only occasional watering in prolonged dry spells. Extra fertilizer is rarely needed and can lead to lush, floppy growth.
Getting the best fall bloom
Pink muhly blooms late in the season, typically in October in many regions, and the show can last for several weeks. To get the most from it (and for general causes of poor flowering, see why your ornamental grass isn’t blooming):
- Give it full sun. This is the most common requirement missed when a plant flowers poorly.
- Keep the soil lean and dry-ish. Frequent watering and rich soil favor leaves over flowers.
- Plant in groups. A mass of plants produces a much stronger haze than a single clump.
- Be patient with young plants. Newly planted clumps may bloom lightly in their first year.
- Check your climate. In colder zones, it may emerge late in spring or struggle in wet winters, so improve drainage and choose a sheltered, sunny site.
If you want a white version, ‘White Cloud’ is a cultivar with ivory to white plumes that bloom shortly after the pink form.
Cutting back
Leave the plumes and foliage standing through fall and winter for color and for birds. Cut the clump back to a few inches above the ground in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Doing it before the new shoots emerge avoids cutting them.
Using it in the garden
Pink muhly works well in masses, borders, meadow-style plantings, rock gardens and gravel beds. Combine it with late-season perennials and with grasses that peak at other times, such as blue-toned little bluestem cultivars. In mild regions it is also a good fit for front beds; see good ornamental grasses for the front of your house.