Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

New Braunfels Chapter

Lindheimer Muhly – Big Muhly

Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

December 2023 Plant of the Month

Our featured Texas native plant for December is Lindheimer Muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri). This large grass is also known as Big Muhly. It is a favorite grass for native landscapes in our community: it is not only stunning when in bloom, it offers wildlife benefits and screening capabilities and is highly deer resistant. 

Clumping blue-green, elegant, tall grass. Feather-like blooms in fall; leave foliage through winter for interest. Slow to recover if cut back. Native Habitat: Limestone uplands near streams of the Edwards Plateau Provides seeds, denning and nesting material if foliage is left through winter for interest. Replaces Invasives: Pampas grass.

Low Maintenance! It can be cut back in mid-February but this grass benefits from not being cut back. Early spring: Old leaves can be raked from the new growth. Large enough to act as screening.

 

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason