NICE! Plant of the Month
(Muhlenbergia spp.)
Description:
Gulf muhly is a native, perennial bunchgrass that usually reaches a height of 1 ½ to 3 feet. It grows in tall clumps and has glossy deep-green leaves. During the mid-fall blooming season, purplish pink flowers arise from tall stems. The tiny flowers look like deep pink clouds. Gulf muhly usually blooms in mid-October. The bloom color fades as the grass becomes dormant in the winter. The plant also is known as pink muhly and purple muhly. The species probably sold in Hill Country nurseries is seep muhly M. reverchonii. Gulf muhly is found on the eastern edge of the Edward’s Plateau and in the prairies and forest edges of east and southeast Texas. It is hardy to horticultural zone 7. Gulf muhly is related to Lindheimer’s muhly, another favorite landscape grass in the Hill Country.
Deer Resistance:
Gulf muhly is not usually browsed by whitetail deer. However, exotics like Axis deer are grazers and do eat grasses. Where there are high concentrations of Axis deer, Gulf muhly, like other ornamental grasses, will likely be eaten.
Planting Sites:
Can be planted in part shade or full sun. It prefers moist, well-drained sites, but withstands seasonal drought. Soil types it tolerates include sand, loam, and clay.
Planting Instructions:
Transplants should be planted 1 ½ to 2 feet apart. It is helpful to work organic matter such as compost into the native soil in the planting hole. Dig hole at least 2 times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Carefully remove plant from container, taking care not to break the root ball. Loosen exterior roots, if root bound. Plant at a depth equivalent to the thickness of soil in the container. Do not add any soil to the top of root ball. Adding a layer of 3-4 inches of mulch after planting is desirable. Gulf muhly can be sown as seed in the spring at the rate of 1 ½ to 2 lbs of live seed per 1000 sq. feet.
Watering Instructions:
After planting, water in well, using root stimulator according to directions. Repeat watering a few days after planting. Gulf muhly planted in shaded areas will require less water than those planted in full sun. The use of drip irrigation or a soaker hose is one option for watering during the hot, dry months. Reduce water during fall and winter. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary in fall and winter, but during a dry period, weekly watering may be desirable.
Other care:
Gulf muhly can be sheared back in the spring to promote growth and eventual blooming later in the year. Add compost and new mulch in the spring. A few feedings with an organic type fertilizer can be done during in the growing season. After a number of years, as the clump enlarges, there may be some die-off in the center of the plant. The original plant can be dug up and divided into smaller plants.
NICE! Tip:
Plant where light from the sunrise or sunset will backlight and highlight the blooms. It can be used as a mass planting in front of tall wildflowers such as Maximilian sunflowers for a dramatic effect. Gulf muhly can be planted on a terraced slope to help with soil erosion control. It is a very effective ornamental accent plant. Muhly grasses as a class are given the four-star rating by anyone that does have them, and should be planted more.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.
