Bamboo muhly looks like a small, lacy bamboo, but this elegant plant is actually a desert-hardy ornamental grass. Here’s how to grow and care for this unusual Arizona native.
Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa), as the name implies, is an ornamental grass that looks like bamboo. It has a zen vibe that would look at home growing along a stream or in a Japanese-style garden.
Unlike most ornamental grasses that are grown mainly for their dramatic seed stalks, bamboo muhly’s seed stalks are not it’s main feature. It’s grown for its dramatic, billowing, lime-green foliage.
This grass is most effective when planted in drifts, but also makes an impressive specimen plant if you only have room for one. It gives a cooling effect to the garden and softens the harshness of boulders, cactus, and other spiky plants.
If you love the look of bamboo but are concerned it may be too large, aggressive, or thirsty for your yard, bamboo muhly makes a good alternative. This resilient southwest native grows in a wide variety of habitats from canyons to grasslands.
Bamboo muhly attracts seed-eating birds and is a larval host for several species of butterflies.
Why I Like This Plant
- Lacy, billowing lime green foliage
- Evergreen, looks good all year
- Low maintenance, does not need annual pruning
- Great container plant
- No thorns, non-toxic, non-invasive
- Attracts birds, butterflies
There are a lot of misconceptions about bamboo — not all types are invasive and you actually can grow many bamboo species in the desert. (Really!) But growing bamboo muhly is a sure-fire way to get the look of bamboo — and none of the headaches.
Things to Watch Out For
While bamboo muhly, usually which stays evergreen all year, it can brown out during summer drought or extreme winter cold.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding bamboo muhly to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Bamboo muhly should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 – 11. It is cold-hardy down to around 10°F and, as a native of southern Arizona and Mexico, tolerates extreme heat.
Sun Exposure
Bamboo muhly can be grown in full sun but it prefers part shade, especially in extremely hot areas such as Phoenix or Las Vegas. When grown in full sun, it will need more water to keep it looking fresh.
Size and Growth Rate
Bamboo muhly is a moderately fast grower that typically reaches a size of 4 feet tall and wide. Plants can grow much larger in their native habitat.
Soil
Bamboo muhly is not fussy and grows well in any native soil, provided it’s well-draining.
Other Location Considerations
Since it has no thorns, is non-toxic, and produces minimal litter, it’s a good choice placing near a pool or sidewalk, or anywhere it might come in contact with pets and people. The only time it’s messy it when you prune old growth.
Bamboo muhly’s cascading form makes it an elegant container plant.
Bamboo Muhly:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Bamboo muhly |
| Scientific Name | Muhlenbergia dumosa |
| Origin | Arizona, Mexico |
| Plant Type | Bunch grass |
| USDA Zones | Zones 8 – 11 |
| Cold Hardy | To 10℉ |
| Mature Size | 4’ high x 4’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Low to moderate |
| Pests & Diseases | None |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic, not invasive |
| Wildlife | Attracts birds, butterflies |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any ornamental grass is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
When to Plant
The best time to plant bamboo muhly is in the fall. This gives your grass three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Bamboo Muhly
Whether you’ve recently planted bamboo muhly or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
As a southwest native, bamboo muhly needs very little water once established, but it does need regular watering after being planted.
Here is the recommended watering schedule for new ornamental grasses.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 6 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
How to Water Established Plants
Once your bamboo muhly is established, water it deeply every few weeks during the summer. These plants will turn brown during the summer when they don’t get enough water. They are drought resistant but look their best with regular supplemental water, especially during the summer.
Since plants go dormant in the winter, they only need water once a month, which is typically provided by winter rains.
Should You Fertilize?
Bamboo muhly doesn’t need fertilizer, but feeding it 2 to 3 times per year can help keep it looking its best.
Pruning & Propagation
Most ornamental grasses need to be pruned every spring to let new growth push through, but in the case of bamboo muhly, annual hard pruning is optional.
However, it is recommended that you give it a hard pruning every few years to rejuvenate it and keep its size and shape in check. Cut it down to 3 – 4 inches in late winter or early spring and it will come back looking better than ever.
This grass spreads slowly from underground stems, eventually forming a large clump which can be divided to make new plants.
Plant Lover Facts
Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) is native to southern Arizona and much of Mexico.
It’s in the same genus as the other “muhly” grasses which are some of the most popular ornamental grasses, i.e., pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) and big muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri).
Muhlenbergia is a genus of 175 grasses, mostly native to the desert southwest. But only a handful are used as landscape plants.
Have you grown this plant?
Was it a “hit” or a “miss” in your garden?
Please share your experience in the comments below!
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
Photo Credits
Katherine Wagner-Reiss, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
“Bamboo Muhly” by Dixie Wells is licensed under CC BY 2.0