Dig into Plants: Pink Muhly Grass

Pink Muhly Grass

Other Common Names: Hairy-awn Muhly; Gulf Muhly

Scientific Name: Muhlenbergia capillaris

Native to Alabama: Yes

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – James Garland Holmes

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BASIC INFORMATION

ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS

MAINTENANCE NOTES

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS

LEAF, FLOWER & SEED ID

PLANT LIFE CYCLE

Basic Plant Information

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Sally and Andy Wasowski

I am a vascular plant with no woody stems and narrow blade-like sheathed leaves, so I am a grass.
I do not keep leaves year-round in colder climates and keep them year round in warmer climates, so I am semi-evergreen.
I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
I can grow 2 – 3 feet high and 2 – 3 feet wide.

Ecological Benefits

This plant provides food for:

Butterflies

Other Birds

Other Plants Found in Alabama with Similar Ecological Benefits:

Cutover Muhly
(Muhlenbergia expansa)

Drop Seed
(Muhlenbergia schreberi)

Maintenance Notes

Brown blades can be cut away in spring to promote new growth.
Can divide every few years to promote upright growth and flowering.
Seed plumes remain on the plant throughout the winter.
Appears lighter in color in the winter.
When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots.
Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
Requires average amount of water.

Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:

Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Part Sun/Shade
(2-6 hours of sun per day)

Average Watering

Well-drained, Sandy, Loamy, Clay,
or Acidic Soil

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center – James Garland Holmes

LEAF DESCRIPTION

Dark, glossy, green leaves; appear hair-like; fine in texture; grow in a stiff and upright pattern.

Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)


Shape: Linear	Margin: Entire/Smooth

Arrangement: Alternate	Form: Simple

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Peggy Romfh

FLOWER DESCRIPTION

Showy, open and airy; loosely branched 12″ long inflorescences that appear above foliage; Provide a pinkish haze.

Flower Shape Chart (JPG)


Color: Pink/Pinkish-red	Shape: Inflorescence/ Raceme (cluster of flowers)	Bloom Months: Aug – Nov

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Sam C. Strickland

SEED DESCRIPTION

Plant spreads by:
Seeds
Does not spread by rhizomes; Seeds germinate in light conditions and require some moisture.


Type: Fruit – Caryopsis (dry, one-seeded fruit)	Description: Grain-like seeds; purple/pink in color; tan seed plumes remain on the plant throughout winter	Months in Seed: Sep – Nov

Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:

All plants start life as a seed.
The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

General Plant Life Cycle – Dreamstime

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Ready as-is PDF

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Editable Word Doc

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Editable Word Doc

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