Pink Muhly
Muhlenbergia capillaris
A fast-growing ornamental grass with stunning pink plumes that glow when backlit by the sun in fall.
An ornamental grass hardy in USDA zones 6-10; it goes dormant and tan in winter frost, greens up in spring, and tolerates low-desert heat well with modest water.
AMWUA Notes
A low-water ornamental grass grown for its dramatic backlit fall plumes; a single late-winter cutback keeps it looking its best.
Care Guide
Water every 1-2 weeks in summer to establish, then every 2-3 weeks; it is drought tolerant once rooted but forms the best plumes with regular deep water and good drainage.
Cut the whole clump back to a few inches in late winter, before spring growth, to clear old foliage and let the fresh mound and fall plumes shine; a single annual cutback is all it needs.
Little to no fertilizer; too much nitrogen makes it flop and reduces the plume show.
Essentially pest-free.
A haze of pink to burgundy flower plumes covers the clump in fall and glows when backlit, fading to tan for winter before the late-winter cutback.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Prefers well-drained sandy or gritty soils; tolerates poor and rocky ground and is showier and longer-lived with sharp drainage.
Needs well-drained soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Seed, or division of clumps in spring.
2-3 ft on center in masses (3 ft mature width)
Non-invasive clumping roots; a tidy ornamental bunchgrass.
Placement Tips
- •Space 2-3 ft apart in masses and plant where afternoon or low sun backlights the pink plumes.
- •Use as a fall focal accent in borders and desert-modern beds against dark walls or evergreen shrubs.
- •Give it good drainage; it is showier and longer-lived in gritty, well-drained soil.
- •Plant in full sun for the strongest plume color; cut back once a year in late winter.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Wildlife Value
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
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Use this care guide to maintain your Pink Muhly. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Pink Muhly — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Pink Muhly need in Phoenix?
Pink Muhly is a low-water ornamental grass once established. Water every 1-2 weeks in summer to establish, then every 2-3 weeks; it is drought tolerant once rooted but forms the best plumes with regular deep water and good drainage. A low-water ornamental grass grown for its dramatic backlit fall plumes; a single late-winter cutback keeps it looking its best.
How big does Pink Muhly get?
Expect roughly 3 ft tall and 3 ft wide at maturity, with a fast growth rate. Allow about 2-3 ft on center in masses (3 ft mature width) of spacing when planting. Non-invasive clumping roots; a tidy ornamental bunchgrass.
Can you plant Pink Muhly near a pool?
Yes. Pink Muhly is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.
Can Pink Muhly handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Pink Muhly is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. An ornamental grass hardy in USDA zones 6-10; it goes dormant and tan in winter frost, greens up in spring, and tolerates low-desert heat well with modest water. A haze of pink to burgundy flower plumes covers the clump in fall and glows when backlit, fading to tan for winter before the late-winter cutback.
Does Pink Muhly have thorns?
No. Pink Muhly is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.
Is Pink Muhly safe around pets?
Pink Muhly is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.
When does Pink Muhly bloom in Arizona?
Pink Muhly blooms in fall, with pink flowers. The bloom draws wind-pollinated.
How much maintenance does Pink Muhly need?
Pink Muhly is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Cut the whole clump back to a few inches in late winter, before spring growth, to clear old foliage and let the fresh mound and fall plumes shine; a single annual cutback is all it needs.
What kind of soil does Pink Muhly need?
Prefers well-drained sandy or gritty soils; tolerates poor and rocky ground and is showier and longer-lived with sharp drainage. It needs no supplemental feeding. Little to no fertilizer; too much nitrogen makes it flop and reduces the plume show.
Is Pink Muhly native to Arizona?
No. Pink Muhly is not an Arizona native; it originates from the Texas, southeastern US, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.