The Gulf coast native grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris is the official harbinger of fall in the Fairegarden. It is the chosen plant to represent Wildflower Wednesday for September, 2013, the meme of my good friend Gail of Clay and Limestone.
Pink muhly grass on an overcast day
Its time has come. The planting on the steep slope is always the first to reach peak pink. It is the view that greets us as we walk out the back door.
Pink muhly grass bedazzles when the sun is shining
Smile inducing all the time but when the sun is shining brightly, the pink sparkles are so vivid you might want to grab the sunglasses for better viewing.
Pink muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris on an overcast day
Pink….
Pink muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris is more pink in bright sunshine
….Pinker
Some facts about the muhly grass from an article in Fine Gardening magazine:
Height- 3 ft. to 6 ft.
Spread- 1 ft. to 3 ft.
Growth Habit- Clumps
Growth Pace- Moderate Grower
Light- Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture- Adaptable
Maintenance- Low
Tolerance- Deer Tolerant;Drought Tolerant
USDA Zones 7-10
Characteristics- Native; Self Seeds; Showy Flowers; Showy Foliage; Showy Seed Heads
Bloom Time- Fall
Flower Color- Pink Flower; Purple/ Lavender Flower
Uses- Beds and Borders, Container, Ground Covers, Cut Flower, Dried Flower, Naturalizing, Specimen Plant/ Focal Point, Suitable as Annual, Waterside
Style Cottage Garden, Meadow Garden
Seasonal Interest- Winter Interest, Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Pink muhly grass, still pretty on December 13, 2012
Recently offspring Semi and her offspring LTB, look how he has grown!, came over to dig some plants for her garden. In snapping some images of them working together, this photo reveals her looking up the slope, most likely at the pink muhly grass. She has several patches of pink muhly on her own slope already. Blooming size seedlings were dug for her from the Knot Garden gravel paths that day. Do you suppose she is dreaming of her grass having a similar appearance some day? It can happen!
For more information about Muhlenbergia capillaris and more photos, here are previous years’ posts about it, some are more clever than others:
Do You Like Pink? September 2012
Pink Muhly Grass Time October 2011
More Muhly December 2011
Muhly Grass Grand Opening October 2010
Waiting For Muhly-Finally Over November 2010
Muhly Watch Friday September 2009
Muhly Grass-See You In September January 2009
In addition to these blog posts, I wrote an article for the April 2012 edition of State By State Magazine that can be seen by clicking here.
Frances
Fairegarden 
Ah lovely as always. I saw a grass (quite reed-like though) sold recently as a muhlenbergia. Of course I forgot the species name and haven’t been able to check on it… But I know it was NOT your pink muchly. A well. One can dream, can’t one! 🙂
I have actually seen the pink muhly grass for sale here. I was tempted to try it. It is pretty this time of year. Yes, your little guy has grown. Time does fly when watching Grands grow. Your hillside looks beautiful with all of that texture.
Oh my! I must have that!
Happy Wildflower Wednesday!
Lea
Lea’s Menagerie
Gorgeous is the perfect word for Pink Muhly! it’s spectacular in your photos but, I can tell you that I am thrilled to have seen it in person. I love it and finally have a well draining hillside that I can plant it on! Yes, I am doing the happy dance for me! happy Wildflower Wednesday. xoxogail
Love seeing your beautiful slope in each season…
Absolutely one of my favorite grasses! In fact I just purchased some more to add to a slope garden. It looks so gorgeous, especially when it catches the light.
So pretty! Looks like cotton candy.
It is always a treat and thrill to see clumps of pink muhly…whether it’s pictures of someone else’s or gazing upon my own in person. Swaths of it never disappoint. Magical, mesmerizing, mystical, magnetic, magnificent…ha, but I don’t have to tell you!
Our local Lowes and/or Home Depot has had nice size pots of it for sale recently. It’s just starting to flower out for them and I wonder if that will make them sell quickly. I suspect it’s better to plant in the spring so that it has time to get established since it is marginally hardy for our area. Lordy, lordy, I love the stuff!
I was thinking how lovely the pink Muhly looks in your garden!! Thank you for all the plants! It was wonderful to be there and with LTB at my side. Your garden is always so inspiring . Love semi
This grass is absolutely beautiful. Wish it would grow in the north. Thank you for sharing this beauty with us.
SO etheral! I just love the photo of Semi and her little boy. He will remember that day in the garden, so much nature, so much nurture…. deep in his bones all his life. In reading the Fine Gardening description of the Pink M. under flowers it says pink, semi colon, and then Lavender Purple. Does that mean there is a lavender variety?
Oh they are so beautiful…Can they be grown from seed?
Oh, how I love this post! Faire, your pink muhly is such a highlight for me in fall. I’ve now added several stands of it to my garden too.~~Dee
It looks amazing massed in your garden! Love this grass and have a long row of it along the driveway which will bloom in a few weeks. I also love this idea of grasses for Wildflower Wednesday.
That’s so magical. I have it here in NE Pennsylvania and it is hardy…. but as soon as it really starts to show off the frost comes to knock it down. I usually cross my fingers for an indian summer and imagine a mass showing like yours!
I look forward to seeing your muhly grass every fall, beautiful as always.
Pink muhly is beautiful but sadly, it wouldn’t be hardy in my garden. Such the luck. I wish I could find a “northern” version to be the harbinger of Autumn in my garden!
I already fell in love with Pink Muhly grass and managed to find some seed after failing to find it in nurseries here. I’ll have to check Lowe’s. I am in major plant lust looking at your lovely photos. It seems like a good plant to fill in spaces between other plants? When I was looking at seed, one nursery had both pink and purple cultivars for sale, so I guess someone has developed purple ones. I hope it won’t be hard to grow, I can try planting some outside as well as under lights.
You’ve changed! I used to battle with your light on dark, Now I can revel in your lovely garden. What a joy to pass your plants on two generations!
Oh, how I always look forward to Muhly time! It’s as beautiful as ever. And my, how LTB has grown–wasn’t he just a little tyke not that long ago??
why oh why cant I grow this? i love it so
I know it’s fall when I see your Muhly blooming. BTW, I like your blog’s new look. it matches the Muhly.
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