Pink Muhly, Gulf Muhly, Hairgrass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Poaceae - The Grass Family
▲ young plant, just starting to flower
Muhlenbergia capillaris: Pink Muhlygrass, Gulf Muhlygrass, Hairgrass
Location near campus: in ornamental grass bed toward southwest corner of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Green park at the Botanical Center; also along the west side of the Xeriscape Garden at the corner of Linwood & National in Springfield.
· warm-season, bunch-type perennial grass with thin, wiry, medium to dark-green leaves 12-36” tall/long
· inflorescences is a large airy, pinkish panicle in late summer to early fall; inflorescence starts darker red before flower branches open fully, then appears as “pink smoke” above the foliage
· prefers full sun to part shade; is fairly soil-tolerant—wet or dry, low or high pH, poor to adequate fertility; is tolerant of salt, both sea spray and road salt/ice melter
native to Missouri