Muhlenbergia capillaris - Muhly Grass

DESCRIPTION

Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris

Thin, blue-green foliage forms a spiky, open, fine-textured mound that throws up stems in September topped by clouds of vibrant pink to lavender flowers that last well into fall. Easy to grow and drought tolerant, this grass is prized by birds for its seed, cover, and nesting attributes.

BENEFITS

Attracts vital native insects
Provides nesting and shelter to native birds
Birds love its abundant seeds
Deer and rabbit resistant
Easy to grow and drought, humidity tolerant
Clumping habit is ideal for wildlife cover

NATIVE INFO

Native Range

Native to New England, south to Florida and west to Texas and the lower Midwest. Found on sandy, pine openings, prairies and dry, exposed ledges.

Map Credit: The Biota of North America
Map Key: Green (native), Teal (native, adventive), Blue (present), Yellow (present & rare), Red (extinct)

INTERESTING FACTS

Ladybugs feed on scale insects, white flies, mites, and aphids so they are considered beneficial insects. Welcome this beneficial native insect to your garden where an adult beetle can eat up to 50 aphids a day.

GROWING TIPS

Prefers sandy or rocky, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. This is a clump-forming ornamental grass that does not spread aggressively.

Mature Size: 30-36"T x 30-36"W

Hardiness Zone: 5-9

Sun Exposure: Full Sun to Light Shade

VIDEO

Coming Soon!

American Beauties Offer Solution Based Plant Collections to Help you Choose

Quick Tips for Choosing Plants:

Planting a variety of native trees, shrubs, perennials and vines increases biodiversity and gives wildlife a source for food, cover and nesting
Choose a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees so birds and other wildlife will always be able to find shelter
Plant trees and large shrubs where they will block winter winds from the house and shade it in summer, that will save energy and lower your carbon footprint
Try your best to buy plants that were grown locally, your independent garden center will be your best bet
Think about ultimate height and width of the plant you choose, make sure it will fit the space you have for it when it's reached maturity
Plant nectar plants in groups, to attract butterflies and other beneficial insects more easily
Ask for help if you need it. Most garden centers either have a landscape designer on staff or they can give you a reference of a designer that is adept at native plant wildlife gardening. There will be upfront costs but they are small when compared to having to redo a landscape that wasn't what you really wanted

Our Plant Tags Hold the Secrets to Success

Choosing the right plants for your garden can seem like a daunting task but we’re here to help. Our horticulturists have spent a considerable amount of time researching and writing our beautiful, American Beauties plant tags to help you be successful. First of all, when you see an American Beauties branded pot at your garden center you can be confident that the plant is native to your area and a responsible choice.

When you look at our tag you’ll find information about the plants natural habitat. That will give you a clue to how it will work in your backyard. For instance if the plant is naturally founded and moist, shade and you have full sun, it’s not the plant for you. The “Features” section gives you an overview or plant description so you’ll know what to expect. While the “Benefits” section talks about the plants strong suits and how the plant will benefit wildlife.

A Special Note About Exposure

Full sun: Prefers six or more hours of direct sunshine a day
Partial shade: Thrives in three to six hours of daily sunshine
Shade: Generally does well with less than three hours of sun per day. Having said that even shade loving plants will struggle in extremely deep shade.

DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

Best Plants for Bees - Double sided printout for download

Best Plants for Butterflies - Double sided printout for download

Best Plants for Birds - Double sided printout for download