Check out some of our favorite ornamental grasses here.
Pine Muhly Care
Pine muhly grows best in sandy to rocky soil that is well-drained. It thrives in full sun but will tolerate part shade, although it does not grow as tall in part shade. Pine muhly tolerates heat, humidity, and drought. A great plant for rock gardens and the desert Southwest, pine muhly has excellent deer resistance and is a long-lived grass. Plant pine muhly in spring. Like most ornamental grasses, pine muhly is most attractive when planted in large swaths of 10 or more plants. A large stand of pine muhly makes a big impact in the landscape and is a low-maintenance planting that provides interest year-round. It is especially striking in late summer and fall when the its flower spikes debut. Cut pine muhly back as needed in early spring before new growth begins. Learn the top deer-resistant plants for your region.
New Innovations
Plant breeders have selected several forms of pine muhly that sport colorful late summer and fall flower spikes. Plant clusters of these late season flowering plants throughout the landscape for a burst of color and interest when annuals and perennials are beginning to fade.
More Varieties of Pine Muhly
Bamboo muhly
Muhlenbergia dumosa offers a fluffy look and is the perfect textural contrast to coarser plants. A North American native, it grows 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Zones 7-10
Gulf muhly
Also called hairgrass or pink muhly, this North American native grass puts on a show with its pink seed heads. It grows 3 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-10
Pine muhly
Muhlenbergia dubia is a low-water, North American native ornamental grass that offers great texture. It grows 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Zones 6-10
‘White Cloud’ muhly
This variety is a showy, deer-resistant selection that offers a lovely display of white flowers from mid-autumn to early winter. It grows 4 feet tall and wide. Zones 6-10
Plant Pine Muhly With:
Among the most architectural plants, agaves feature bold succulent leaves that set the tone for wherever they’re planted. They’re incredibly heat- and drought-tolerant and most are long-lived. Many varieties bear sharp spines along leave margins and at the leaf tip, which adds to their dramatic presentation. The bluish-green rosettes naturally spread by producing offsets at the base of the plant. It is an excellent choice for sunny, hot, dry areas, especially desert regions, with good drainage. This North American native plant has a home in nearly every garden with flowers that hummingbirds love. Long blooming with brilliantly colored, tubular flowers, penstemons – ironically – have been a staple in European gardens for decades.There are many different penstemon types. The leaves are lance-shape or oval, sometimes purple-red as in ‘Husker Red’. Some Western species need outstanding drainage to dry conditions and won’t thrive during wet weather. However, many, such as ‘Husker Red’, thrive in a wide variety of conditions. Just be sure to provide excellent drainage. Mulch in areas where a type is marginally hardy.
