Muhlenbergia Species, Gulf Hairawn Muhly, Gulf Muhly Grass

An extraordinarily beautiful grass in all seasons, but especially when its misty pink flowers float over it in early fall. It forms neat ...Read Moreclumps of fine-textured foliage and does not spread.

This may well be my favorite ornamental grass. I wish it were hardy for me (Boston, Z6a). It may be a zone hardier in areas with less winter moisture than the east coast, but on the east coast the plants in commerce aren't hardier than Z7b/8a.

East coast gardeners in Z7a-Z5 should consider growing the hardier M. reverchonii instead. It has grown reliably in the Denver and St. Louis Botanic Gardens where M. capillaris has consistently failed.

All of the plants now in commerce sold as M. capillaris appear to belong to this less hardy southern coastal ecotype, once called M. capilliaris var. filipes. That labeling is technically correct, though it misleads those north of Z7b/8a into believing they've purchased a hardy plant.

"Plants of southeastern coastal habitats have in the past been segregated as a botanical variety, Muhlenbergia capilliaris var. filipes, or even as a species, M. filipes; however, there is no clear delineation and the modern consensus is that all belong to one wide-ranging, somewhat variable species: M. capillaris."---Rick Darke, The Encyclopedia of Grasses, 2007

It is also native in Southeastern Virginia - a zone 8 region- and very reliable and tough.

Gulf Muhly Grass or Gulf Hairawn Muhle (Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filipes) is an excellent, very popular, drought-tolerant and beautif...Read Moreul native landscape and wild grass native to the sandhills, dry sunny habitats, fields, scrub and open, dry or sandy, habitats from zone 8a in parts of central and southern North Carolina southward throughout Florida, the rest of the Southeast and Deep South, and the Gulf coast states, northward to a few neighboring states. It is very beautiful, forming pink to whitish, mist-like appearances and is very popular in many areas throughout it's range in the landscape, including in may area. It appears beautiful wherever it is. It is drought-tolerant and also probably useful to some wildlife. I would recommend it for any garden in the southeastern United States, from zone 8a southward. It is also pretty salt-tolerant as well, as it is found near the coasts and on barrier islands. One of the best native grasses for landscaping and a wildlife garden in the southeastern United States, and is hardy from zone 8a in North Carolina southward. It is also very drought-tolerant and provides color nearly year-round, especially in summer and fall. Superb native grass!

MORE FACTS - Drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant. Grows well in dry sandy areas and open, exposed, sunny locations. Does well in the landscape (very good for landscaping outside around the house and around walkways and paths) and very, very well in a native plant or wildlife garden, especially in it's favored dry and sandy exposed sunny habitats, although it is, however, widely tolerant of many conditions, including in my area. Grows well from zone 8a in North Carolina southward throughout the rest of the southeast, Florida, and the Gulf coast states and northward in a few neighboring states, although mainly on the coastal plain. It is native to the United States and is native throughout much or throughout it's entire range, which I just described. Grows well on barrier islands and in coastal, salty, oceanside situations. An excellent, salt and drought-tolerant, and very beautiful (feathery-appearing) native grass for the southeastern United States and the Gulf coast!