vicky, i need your email address. i have pink muhly grass, and would trade for hakone. inthegarden_k

I'm in Nashville and ours has been down below zero and come back . We have big sweeps in front of the best Panicum v. 'Northwind'. STUNNING, especially here in two weeks . I see plants all the time listed as 7b that come back here reliably . Zonal denial . Muhlenbergia dumosa rocks , unfortunately have yet to have this overwinter , will try again .Muhlys seem to like it hot,dry, and sunny . Try Mu. cap. 'White Cloud' .

I am a local small-time grower in Sopchoppy, FL. I have just recently started growing native grasses for local landscapers, and pink muhly is my most plentiful. If you find yourself up this way, I currently have about 2000 1-gallon muhly grass if you are interested. I could part with them for about $2.75 each. FYI, if you go to a nursery it will probably be about $6.00 each. Otherwise, here is how I started mine from seed. I go around in late fall-early winter and collect seeds from specimens used in local landscaping. As with most grasses, you must wait until the inflorescensce turns brown and fall off easily. Muhly Grass seed is naturally dispersed by wind. Thus you will know the seed is ready to collect when you can run your hand up the stem and pull off the inflorescense with little effort (in N. Florida, anytime after Thanksgiving). If it does not slide off easily it is not ready. You can collect several hundred-thousand seeds in about a 1/2 hour. I have the best success getting it to germinate in the winter. I think it must need cold temps. It is virtually impossible to separate the chaf from the seed so don't waste your time. Give the chaf and seeds a little drying time, put it in a bag. Wad the bag up with your hands. The seeds and chaf with fall out to the bottom. Remember, the shorter the time between seed harvest and sowing, the better germination rate you will get. Fill up a plug tray with a mixture of 1/2 vermiculite 1/2 peat moss (pre-mixed), no soil!. Pick out a portion of seed/chaff about the size of a nickel and plant it in each cell covering it with about 1/4' of moss-vermic mix. Keep it wet, full sun, and wait about 2-4 weeks. Each cell will yield 1 plant which will fill up a 1 gallon container in about 3 months. It won't flower until the second year though. Let me know if you are interested (850)962-9861 in buying some and spread the word. Here is a link that might be useful: Blackwater Ornamental Grasses

kimberely, I have both. Don't cut either one down at all. They need a great deal of water, if you have sandy soil, i am not sure what your soil is like. You might want to put down a drip hose to make sure they get enough water. My blue fescue really never did very well. It is still alive, it is a cool season grass, which means it loves the cooler weather in the winter. I personally wouldn't plant it in the front of my house, but see if it turns blue this winter and if you like the look of it. I wasn't impressed with the pink muhly grass, but that is just my opinion. I planted red head grass, it is awesome. I also planted silver Miscanthus grass, also awesome, and I water the silver grass constantly in the heat. I also planted Mondo grass, which was a dud. i think a small little bit is still alive, but don't buy it. I gave it 4 years, and it is almost gone. I love grasses, but some grasses really need alot of water, and some are quite drought resistant. Hit or miss.