Facts About Pink Muhly Grass

Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is a popular ornamental grass featuring airy pink flower heads above wiry, unbranched leaves. Easy to grow from seeds or clump division, pink muhly forms dense clumps that do not produce runners.

Size

Pink muhly grass forms clumps that can reach 3 feet high and wide. The flower heads are 18 inches long and up to 10 inches wide.

Color

In late summer, pink flower heads appear and last for six to eight weeks. As the seeds ripen, the plumes become tan-colored.

Foliage

The narrow, fine-textured foliage of pink muhly grass is dark green. In colder zones, the stems turn tan in winter but remain erect until cut back in spring. Above zone 8, pink muhly grass may stay green through the winter.

Habitat and Range

Suitable for zones 5 through 10, pink muhly grass is salt-tolerant and durable.

Requirements

Hardy pink muhly grass will grow in acid or alkaline soil and thrives in full sun or partial shade. It tolerates wet or dry conditions but grows larger if watered regularly.

Uses

Aside from its use as a versatile landscaping specimen, pink muhly grass is used to make woven baskets.