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Native Plant Society of Texas

Seep Muhly

Muhlenbergia reverchonii

Other common name(s):

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Texas Blackland Prairies
Stockton Plateau
Limestone Cut Plain
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Moist, Rocky

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Brown, Pink, White

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Good for prairie restorations within its range. Makes a wonderful plant for a meadow, especially if there is a little bit of moisture such as a seep. Native habitat: grassy, limestone slopes, rocky limestone, clay, and caliche prairies.

Description

Blooms August-November. A warm-season grass. Forms dense clumps of slender stems and foliage. Its most distinctive trait is the curly mass of old leaf blades that accumulate at the base of the grass as it ages. The seed head is delicate, purplish and branching. Seep Muhly is sometimes said to resemble a less pink, inland limestone version of Gulf muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). Hybridizes naturally with the much larger Muhlenbergia lindheimeri to form Muhlenbergia x involuta.

References

1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MURE2, 2) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=41937#null, 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=18602&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 3) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas, 4) https://www.coastalpoint.com/lifestyle/pinkly-muhly-grass-a-must-have-for-native-fall-color/article_7af89124-535c-11ee-ac65-4fa036eac6ca.html#:~:text=Songbirds%2C%20turkeys%20and%20small%20animals,insects%20and%20birds%20from%20predators.&text=Attracts%20butterflies%20and%20is%20a%20host%20plant%20for%20moths%20and%20butterflies, 5) https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=441395&isprofile=0&letter=M#:~:text=Muhlenbergia%20reverchonii%2C%20sometimes%20commonly%20called,turn%20tawny%20brown%20in%20winter.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Clump Division Examine the root system and identify natural divisions or sections. Use your hands, a sharp knife, or gardening tools to divide the clump into smaller sections. Each section should have its own roots and shoots or stems. Inspect the divided sections for damage, pests, or diseases and treat them as necessary. Prepare the planting site or containers for the divided sections. Ensure that the soil or potting mix is suitable for the plant's needs. Plant each division in its designated spot, ensuring the roots are adequately covered with soil or planting medium. After planting the divisions, water them thoroughly to promote root establishment. Provide regular care, including watering and sunlight, according to plant requirements. Monitor the divisions for any signs of stress or problems and address them accordingly. It is generally advisable to divide in the early spring or fall when the plant is not actively growing or flowering. This allows the divided sections to establish new roots before vigorous growth. Carefully dig up the entire plant, preserving the root system and minimizing damage to the plant. Use a garden fork or shovel to loosen the soil around the plant before lifting it out of the ground. Three or four blades supported by a root system is sufficient to start a new plant. 1) https://plantselect.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Muhlenbergia-reverchonii-_Prop-Protocol.pdf 2) https://www.perenual.com/plant-propagation-methods/method/13
Seed Scarification Germinates best with a very light scarification. It is recommended that the seed be rubbed between a fine grain sandpaper to scar the seed coat, not completely remove. Prepare a suitable soil mix, such as potting soil or a seed tray filled with a seed-starting mix. Lightly cover the seeds with soil and gently firm the soil to ensure proper seed-to-soil contact. Provide adequate moisture, suitable temperature, and sufficient light. Once the seeds germinate and the seedlings emerge, provide regular watering, protection from pests and diseases, and adjust environmental conditions as needed to promote healthy growth. As the seedlings grow and develop, they will eventually outgrow their initial containers or seed trays. At this stage, they can be carefully transplanted into larger pots or directly into the ground, ensuring proper spacing and soil preparation. Greenouse conditions: M. reverchonii can tolerate temperature swings from 45F to 90F in pots and it has low water requirements. Garden conitions: M. reverchonii can tolerate a wide range of soils and temperatures including cold hardiness. Collect mature and healthy seeds from a parent plant. This can be done by harvesting seeds directly from the plant or by obtaining seeds from other sources such as seed catalogs or nurseries. Seed must be collected very ripe in order to be viable; check for a darker gray/brown embryo when deciding when to collect. In some climates, M. reverchonii will not bloom until late September-October; this may not provide enough time for fully-formed seed to develop. 1) https://plantselect.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Muhlenbergia-reverchonii-_Prop-Protocol.pdf 2) https://www.perenual.com/plant-propagation-methods/method/32

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason