Plant of the Week
Muhly Grass, Hairy Awn
Latin: Muhlenbergia capillaris
A minivan full of Arkansas plant nuts just returned from a tour
of southeastern nurseries where we beheld a toothsome assortment of new and
interesting plants to try in our gardens. One of the most striking perennials we
saw was muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris.
Our collective heads were turned on a bright October day when we
saw a mass planting of muhly grass backlit by the early morning sun. The
delicate, wispy plumes shimmered an iridescent pinkish-purple that made even the
most flamboyant flowers look tame by comparison.
Other ornamental grasses may get bigger and have more stature in
the landscape, but none will present a more appealing display when the light
conditions are just right.
More than 70 species of muhly grasses are described, with most
of them native to the western parts of North America. Muhlenbergia capillaris,
though, is native from Massachusetts to Florida and across to Texas and into
adjacent areas of Mexico. In full plumage in the fall, it grows 3-feet tall with
the panicle a third to half the height of the plant.
The plumes of Muhlenbergia capillaris are oval in outline and
composed of thousands of delicate pinkish hair-like strands. The grass is
perennial and forms a strong clump with round, rush-like leaves that are stiffly
upright and usually less than 18-inches tall.
Muhly grass is named for Gotthif Henry Ernest Mühlenberg
(1753-1815), who was the pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster,
Pa., and an avid amateur botanist. Plant people throughout history have let
their interest in plants turn to passion and their passion turn to obsession.
Herr Mühlenberg seems to be one of those people.
From his home base in southeastern Pennsylvania he collected
plants and published on the native flora of his region. He was active in the
natural history circles of his day and was considered the "Linnaeus of America"
by some of his European corespondents. Meriwether Lewis gave Mühlenberg seeds of
six western plant species collected on their epic tour and he lovingly grew them
in his garden. His treatise on American grasses was finally published two years
after his death.
In nature, muhly grass occurs in rocky or sandy sites in full
sun amongst pines, along salty or freshwater marshes and in dry upland hardwood
forests. It will tolerate temperatures as low as minus-15 degrees and is hardy
throughout Arkansas. In much of the southeast it grows alongside roadways. Too
often it’s mowed down before it’s delicate plumes appear in the fall. It does
not seem to become weedy when planted in the garden.
In the garden it will grow in most sunny to lightly shaded sites
as long as there’s sufficient soil drainage. It’s best used in mass plantings
where the delicate texture of the blooms can be displayed unencumbered by
surrounding vegetation.
For best display, put the plant where it can be seen in the
early morning or evenings. The flat light of the noonday sun hides much of the
beauty of the plant. A striking use would be to interplant clumps of muhly grass
in a bed of groundcover juniper.
By: Gerald Klingaman, retired
Extension Horticulturist
- Ornamentals
Extension News -
October 26, 2001
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