Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
Common Names: Lindheimer's muhlygrass, blue muhlygrass
Family: Poaceae/Gramineae (grass Family)
Grass Perennial Drought Tolerant Has Unusual or Interesting Foliage
Description
Lindheimer's muhly grass has bluish gray foliage that grows in a
clump 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) wide and 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m) tall. The
flowering spikes stand well above the arching foliage, up to 5 ft
(1.5 m) tall, in fact. They appear in early fall, starting out
purplish, then aging to gray and persisting through most of the
winter. The dense clumps of flowering spikes produce an airy, fluffy
look. 'Lenli' and 'Regal Mist' have yellowish flower spikes. 'Autumn
Glow' is a popular cultivar with a reddish inflorescence.
Location
Lindheimer's muhly grass is native to dry prairies and rocky slopes
in Texas and northern Mexico.
Culture
Tolerant of drought and high summer temperatures, Lindheimer's muhly
grass is a strong performer. Once established, it needs no care.
Light: Full sun.
Moisture: Lindheimer's muhly grass is highly drought tolerant and
tolerant of arid conditions, but it does well in the humid SE U.S.,
too. It can even tolerate occasional wet soils.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 - 11.
Propagation: Propagate muhly grasses by seed or by dividing the root
mass in the dormant season.
Usage
Use muhly grass in borders and perennial gardens where a
fine-textured foliage is desired to accent bolder specimens. Massed,
muhlys make excellent groundcover for areas with poor, sandy soils.
Lindheimer's muhly is an excellent substitute for pampas grass -
it's more cold hardy and the leaves do not cut. Other muhly grasses
are tolerant of salt spray and Lindheimer's may be as well. The
muhly grasses are recommended for road shoulders and medians.
Features
Because of their drought tolerance and wide adaptability, the
several species of muhly grasses native to the U.S. and Mexico are
becoming increasingly attractive to water conscious gardeners. Gulf
muhly (M. capillaris) is the most widespread and one of the most
popular. Lindheimer's muhly is one of the largest species and
gardeners are fast coming to appreciate its charms. |
