Pink muhly is an ornamental grass with dramatic pink plumes. It thrives in the southwest despite being native to the Eastern US. Here’s how to grow this gorgeous, adaptable plant.
Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is widely considered one of the most beautiful ornamental grasses. It has a softening, cooling effect in the garden.
Its fine green leaves are nothing special, but it puts on a spectacular show every fall when it’s covered with clouds of wispy pink plumes. It almost seems to glow when backlit from the sun.
Even though it’s a native of the wetter, more temperate Eastern US, pink muhly makes a low-maintenance, resilient desert landscape plant. It’s happy in either full or part sun and once established needs minimal irrigation.
Pink muhly is not just beautiful, it’s also a boon to wildlife. Birds eat its seeds, and use it to build nests and provide shelter. It attracts beneficial insects including ladybugs, and is a host plant for many species of butterflies and moths.
This grass is most effective when planted in drifts, but also makes an arresting specimen plant if you only have room for one.
Why I Like This Plant
- Dazzling pink plumes
- Low maintenance
- Attracts birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects
- No thorns, non-toxic, non-invasive
Things to Watch Out For
Don’t expect pink muhly to look like the pictures all year! They bloom in the fall and the pink flowers last about a month before turning tan. Plants go dormant in the winter and should be cut to the ground in late winter or early spring. So be aware that they are not show-stoppers for most of the year.
Unfortunately, these plants peak after four years or so, and then need to be divided or replaced due to thatch build-up. Digging them up can be a challenge in typical desert soil.
If you’re looking for a longer-lived alternative, consider deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens). This southwest native typically lives 15 years.
Since some ornamental grasses are invasive, it’s wise to be concerned.
Pink muhly does not reseed in the landscape and is not invasive.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding pink 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
Pink muhly should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 – 11. It is very cold-hardy down to around 0°F. It can withstand extreme heat, even the heat of Phoenix summers.
Sun Exposure
Pink muhly looks its best when planted in full sun, but also grows well in part shade. It tolerates the reflected heat from buildings or walls.
Size and Growth Rate
Pink muhly is considered a moderate-to-fast grower that reaches a size of 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide before blooming. Be sure to give this plant plenty of room so that it can reach its full potential when its plumes spring forth in the fall.
Soil
Pink muhly is not particular about soil and grows in sandy, rocky, or clay soil, provided it’s well-draining. As a native to the Eastern US, it prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil but tolerates our alkaline desert soil.
Other Location Considerations
Because it has no thorns and produces minimal litter, it’s a plant you can feel comfortable placing near a pool or sidewalk, or anywhere it might come in contact with pets and people. (The only time it’s messy is when it’s time to prune.)
Its plumes are inviting, so you can expect that anyone walking by will be tempted to run their hands over the pink inflorescences. Fortunately, they are not spiky, irritating, or toxic.
Pink Muhly:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Pink muhly |
| Scientific Name | Muhlenbergia capillaris |
| Origin | Eastern US |
| Plant Type | Bunch grass |
| USDA Zones | Zones 6 – 11 |
| Cold Hardy | To 0℉ |
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Flower Season | Fall |
| Mature Size | 3’ high x 3’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part, or reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Low to moderate |
| Pests & Diseases | None |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic, not invasive |
| Wildlife | Attracts birds, pollinators Deer resistant |
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 pink 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 Pink Muhly
Whether you’ve recently planted a pink 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 Ornamental Grasses
Pink muhly is often touted as being a low water plant, but that doesn’t mean it’s a “no water” plant. Remember that its native habitat is much wetter than the desert southwest.
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 pink muhly is established, water it deeply every week or two during the summer. While it can survive on less, it will look its best in the fall with regular watering 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?
Pink muhly can benefit from an annual application of fertilizer in the spring.
How to Prune
Pink muhly should be pruned hard once in late winter or early spring. Cut it down to 3 – 4 inches above the ground.
You can cut it straight across, but slightly irregular cuts look more natural and mimic the grazing that would occur when growing in grasslands, its native habitat. This lets light penetrate the crown and makes way for new spring growth.
Here’s what happens if you prune them like small shrubs.
So-called landscapers (i.e., plant butchers) did this to hundreds of ornamental muhly grasses in my community last year, and they never recovered because the new growth couldn’t push through. They used to be beautiful.🥹
Pro Tip!
Tightly tie the dried leaves and flower stalks
with string or duct tape before cutting.
This makes clean-up much easier.
Pink Muhly Cultivars
Pink muhly has a few varieties you may encounter when plant shopping. They are all equally stunning.
‘Regal Mist’ is by far the most popular cultivar. It’s known as a particularly reliable bloomer with dark pink flowers.
‘White Cloud’ is somewhat larger and more upright than pink muhly. It blooms later and has white plumes.
‘Pink Flamingo’ is a naturally occurring cross between pink muhly and Lindheimer’s muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri), a southwest native.
Plant Lover Facts
Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaries) has many alternative common names including pink muhly grass, gulf muhly, hair-awn muhly, hairy-awn muhly, hair grass, mule grass, pink hair grass, and purple muhly.
The genus, Muhlenbergia, was named after the German botanist Gotthilf Muhlenberg, who is credited with classifying and naming at least 150 plant species.
Muhlenbergia is a genus of 175 grasses, mostly native to the desert southwest. But only a handful are used as landscape plants.
Pink Muhly is Endangered in Some States
Pink muhly has a large native range that includes about half of the US. It extends from Pennsylvania to the Gulf Coast and from Texas to the Eastern Seaboard. It can be grown as a landscape plant in all but the coldest regions of the US.
Yet, ironically, it’s considered endangered in some parts of its native range, including in Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, and New Jersey. And it no longer exists in the wild in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
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.
