Deanna Haworth, I always had visions of pink muhly grass growing along my side landscape area. However, I live in South Dakota where temperatures this year went to 30 below zero. And, the fact that this beauty takes several years to nestle into its earth made me realize it won't happen on my landscape. :(

The biggest difference is winter hardiness. Otherwise, they are about the same size, and have the same characteristics of habit and bloom. I can tell which is which from the bloom, but unless you look at them side-by-side, you probably couldn't. Pink is more pink, while Purple is magenta. Ornamental grasses shouldn't have their crowns covered with mulch during their growing season, but when they're dormant, it can be helpful. During at least the first two winters, you would be wise to cut the grass back before the coldest season comes, and cover the crowns with several inches of coarse mulch, like wood chips. As soon as the coldest season has passed, uncover the crowns. If you have a very wet cold season, uncover them. I assume you don't have reliable snow cover, so this method of mulching tender grasses gives them good insulation.

Donn Thanks for your reply. I am a little confused because of the descriptions on the tags of these two grasses at the nursery. They are both from Monrovia nurseries. Please look at the url I have listed and click on the different grasses to show the write up of the plants concerning the height of each. The Monrovia tag says the Regal Mist is 4' high in bloom and the plain Pink Muhly says it is 3' high in bloom. Is this correct or have you found it to be the other way around (per your post). I have a smaller garden myself and would prefer the smaller of the two grasses. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. Here is a link that might be useful: Monrovia Descriptions of Pink Muhly and Regal Mist P.M.

I'm in zone 7 Oklahoma where it stays hot from late May through October. Mine are only just now kicking in with blooms that are still forming and opening. They are the latest to bloom of all my grasses along with the 'Flamingo' muhly that is sold by High Country Gardens. I imagine gardengal is right, they really do need a long hot period. M. riverchonni is another type that blooms pink, mine bloomed in mid August and the blooms are now wheat colored. High Country Gardens sells these if you need a type that is more suited to a shorter season. They also carry M. 'Flamingo'. I have read there is a Texas ecotype of the Gulf Muhly and also a Florida type, the Texas is supposed to be hardier, maybe it would bloom for you reliably? I am not sure how a person tells which is which when buying them however as I never see them distinguish one from another.