Muhlenbergia capillaris Seeds | Pink Muhly Grass
LATIN NAME: Muhlenbergia capillaris
COMMON NAME: Pink Muhly Grass, Gulf Muhly, Hair Grass
Plant Profile
Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is a clump-forming perennial grass of the family Poaceae, native to the pine woods and prairies of the southern United States. It forms neat mounds of fine, dark-green blades 30-90 cm tall, which in autumn erupt into vast, airy clouds of pink-purple flower panicles that seem to float above the foliage. It is one of the most spectacular of all ornamental grasses and thrives in heat, drought and poor soils.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the grass family, Muhlenbergia capillaris draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. Pink muhly grass has a real and distinguished place in research. For researchers, plants like this one offer practical material for propagation studies and selection work.
Uses & Benefits
Pink Muhly Grass brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Pink muhly grass is a graceful, clump-forming perennial grass of warm meadows, bearing fine, airy, pink-purple plumes which float above foliage in the autumn. To raise pink muhly grass, sow seeds on surface of pots of moist, open soil in a sunny, bright place, keep them gently watered, and grow little grasses on in the sun. A plant that has settled in will get along with only routine care.
Muhly grasses paint autumn in pink and purple clouds; they are beloved native ornamentals for meadow gardens.
Growing from Seed
Pink Muhly Grass grows readily from seed. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide bright light. A cool, moist period before sowing helps the seeds wake evenly — a few weeks in damp medium in the refrigerator is the usual approach. When the young plants are big enough to handle, space them into pots or a nursery row and let them size up before their final move.
Our Take
Being a grass, it asks for a permanent spot and repays it yearly. Pink Muhly Grass, Gulf Muhly, Hair Grass has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Fresh seed sown into evenly moist compost is most of the battle won.
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