Plant of the week 15: Pink Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

            A showstopper in the fall, Pink Muhlygrass produces a spectacular display with its soft, airy plumes of pink to purple flower panicles. Cloud-like Flowers begin blooming in October and usually last until after Thanksgiving. It is still attractive after turning to seed, as the tan plumes remain through the winter. While attractive by itself, planting several together offer the showiest presentation.

            Pink Muhlygrass is a clump forming grass, with a height and width of around 2 to 3 feet tall, reaching up to 4 feet when flowering. Long lived, highly resistant to deer browse, and with very few if any issues with disease and pests, it is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance grass. Pink Muhlygrass does best in full sun and is quite resilient – tolerating drought, humidity, poor soils, air pollution, and salt.

            This warm season grass can be found throughout most of the eastern United States, but it is more commonly found in the south. In the northern part of its native range, it is considered very rare or extirpated (locally extinct). In Maryland (as well as West Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut), it is designated as S1 (Highly State Rare / Critically Imperiled).