Gardening Guides
Great Design Plant: Pink Muhly Grass
Bring billowing clouds of pink to your yard with this heat-tolerant, sun-loving ornamental grass
By now we’ve established that most of us love ornamental grasses. Their movement, fine texture and minimal upkeep leave little to be desired. And with so many varieties available, you can choose from an array of grays, greens, blues, reds and even pinks to satisfy and accent garden features.
One in particular — a floaty, rosy variety called pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) — produces some of the finest fall garden color, leaving the landscape blushing with pride.
One in particular — a floaty, rosy variety called pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) — produces some of the finest fall garden color, leaving the landscape blushing with pride.
Distinguishing traits. Evergreen in the low desert, pink muhly is a warm-season grass with an annual autumnal extravaganza. In late summer or fall, a mist of pink flowers blankets the tips of the blades, bringing the plant up 2 feet more.
Pink muhly grows upright, and while other grass textures accentuate the motion of wind, pink muhly nearly blurs it, creating a humming pink cloud. After flowering for several weeks, the grass' resulting seeds tan the grass before self-sowing.
Pink muhly grows upright, and while other grass textures accentuate the motion of wind, pink muhly nearly blurs it, creating a humming pink cloud. After flowering for several weeks, the grass' resulting seeds tan the grass before self-sowing.
Pink muhly grows in the foreground of this garden. The mounding green growth characterizes the plant when it's not in bloom.
How to use it. Pink muhly’s fine texture is an effective landscape softener. Note how attractively pink muhly highlights the sculptural agave in this landscape by D-Crain Design and Construction.
Pink muhly grass is native to central and eastern regions of the United States as well as Texas, growing on the prairie and in open woodlands. Many native plantings incorporate it into prairies, savannas and coastal dunes. Planted en masse, pink muhly blurs where this garden inside the fence ends and that of the outside begins, bridging maintained and wild landscapes.
Pink muhly grass is native to central and eastern regions of the United States as well as Texas, growing on the prairie and in open woodlands. Many native plantings incorporate it into prairies, savannas and coastal dunes. Planted en masse, pink muhly blurs where this garden inside the fence ends and that of the outside begins, bridging maintained and wild landscapes.
Or use the grass as an accent, as designer Shirley Bovshow has done here, by planting smaller clumps throughout the garden.
Planting notes. Pink muhly’s tolerance of many soil types is noteworthy. However, this grass enjoys moist but well-drained soil in a sunny to partially shady portion of your garden.
It is drought tolerant once established but will grow fuller and thrive more with irrigation. Pink muhly clumps, so it will not invade other beds and can be divided to create more plants in spring. Cut the grass down in late winter, after it's done flowering, to allow for new growth in spring.
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It is drought tolerant once established but will grow fuller and thrive more with irrigation. Pink muhly clumps, so it will not invade other beds and can be divided to create more plants in spring. Cut the grass down in late winter, after it's done flowering, to allow for new growth in spring.
See more guides to great design plants
Common names: Pink muhly grass, pink hair grass, gulf muhly, hairawn muhly
USDA zones: 6 to 9 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Low; grows larger with additional irrigation
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Drought, deer, heat and salt-spray tolerant
Seasonal interest: Ornamental evergreen foliage; flowers late summer to fall
When to plant: Sow seeds or divide in spring.