Pink Muhly Grass

Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

Gulf Muhly, Hair Grass, Pink Hair Grass

Full sun, dry to moderately dry, excellent drainage required — tolerates clay if not waterlogged, pH 5.5–7.5.

2–3 feet tall, 3 feet wide; blooms September–November producing a billowing pink-to-magenta cloud of hair-fine inflorescences above the dark green foliage; warm-season clump-former, spreads by self-seeding but not aggressively in Middle Tennessee.

Propagation by seed (Germination Code A — no pretreatment needed): surface-sow on bare mineral soil in fall for best results, or cold-stratify 30 days before spring sowing.

Native region: Middle and East Tennessee, particularly in rocky cedar glades, limestone outcrops, and dry open woodlands; native to the Inner Central Basin.

Muhlenbergia capillaris performs best on the thin, rocky, calcareous soils native to Middle Tennessee's cedar glade landscape — the same soil profile found along roadsides and dry slopes throughout the Columbia-to-Franklin corridor. In heavier clay with poor drainage, crowns rot over winter; raised planting or amended beds on a grade resolve this. The fall bloom period (October–November) is one of the latest of any ornamental grass, extending visual interest well past the first frost. Cut back to 4–6 inches in February before spring emergence. Essentially pest- and disease-free under good drainage conditions; deer resistant.