Pink Muhly Grass Muhlenbergia Capillaris 10 Seeds
Alternate Names
Purple muhly grass
Pink muhly
Hair grass
Gulf muhly
Long-awn hairgrass
Muhly grass
Hairy-awn muhly
Uses
Conservation: Hairawn muhly is a resilient and drought-resistant native ornamental grass suitable for land reclamation. Additionally, it serves as an effective fine fuel for managing understory burns.
Landscaping and wildlife: Hairawn muhly showcases stunning pink and purple flowers in the autumn. It demands minimal upkeep and is ideal for meadow gardens as well as general garden use. This grass is recognized for attracting beneficial insects like ladybug beetles (Coccinella spp.). Its clumping growth habit makes hairawn muhly an excellent choice for providing wildlife cover.
Hairawn muhly is recognized as an endangered species in Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, and New Jersey; it is considered extirpated in Pennsylvania and presumed extirpated in Ohio. For the current status of this plant (such as whether it is threatened or endangered, its state noxious status, and wetland indicator values), please refer to the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources.
Description and Adaptation
Hairawn muhly is a native, perennial, warm-season grass that typically reaches heights of 1–3 feet and spreads 2–3 feet wide. The stems are unbranched and exhibit an upright growth habit. The wiry, slender leaves measure 18–36 inches in length, are simple (not composed of multiple leaflets), and alternate (growing singly along the stem). The leaves maintain a green color throughout the summer, transitioning to copper in the fall. The flowers, which can be purplish-red or pink, are clustered in a long, diffuse arrangement that matures from the bottom upwards. This cluster is supported by a stem approximately 18 inches long and 10 inches wide, rising above the foliage. The seed stalks can grow to heights of 2–5 feet. The flowers eventually develop into oblong seeds that are tan or brown and measure less than half an inch in length. Hairawn muhly forms clumps but does not propagate through above or below-ground stems (stolons or rhizomes).
Seeds ought to be gathered from plants in late autumn and air-dried for a period of five to ten days.
Collect seeds during the warmest and driest part of the day, utilizing a comb to prevent disturbing the plant's appearance.
For greenhouse To propagate, plant seeds in winter to ensure robust plants ready for spring planting. Germination does not require cold treatment. When sowing directly outdoors, place seeds one-eighth of an inch deep in rows that are spaced 24–48 inches apart. Maintain consistent moisture in the soil during the establishment phase. Fertilization is not advised for directly sown stands.
Propagation can also be achieved by dividing existing clumps in early spring and summer, but avoid dividing during the flowering period.
Management involves burning or mowing hairawn muhly stands in late winter to clear away old residue. Hairawn muhly thrives in neutral to slightly acidic soils but is adaptable to various soil types. It has a low tolerance for high pH levels and a high tolerance for salinity. Hand-weeding of established stands is recommended, along with fertilization based on soil test results.
Pests and Potential Issues include aphids, which may infest hairawn muhly blooms during the early seed development stages. Increasing the population of beneficial insects, such as ladybug beetles, can serve as a natural method of biological control.
