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Muhly (Muhlenbergia)
Muhly are robust, dense-growing grasses, mostly growing in arid regions; thus, they are well adapted to drought. Many species are fodder plants so palatable to foraging animals that they are usually eliminated from pastures and wherever livestock can access them. Several species are showy and used in horticulture as decorative grasses. The Latin name comes from Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg (1753-1815), a Lutheran minister, self-taught botanist, and one of the first U.S. scientists.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Muhly
Feedback
Attributes of Muhly
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
10 - 35 ℃
Scientific Classification of Muhly
Distribution of Muhly
Feedback
Distribution Map of Muhly
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Muhly
Feedback
Muhly, often referred to as 'Muhly Grass', is a versatile plant genus with an easy-going care profile. It generally thrives in full sun to partial shade, moderate watering, and well-draining soil conditions. It's tolerant to varied temperature ranges, although it grows best in warmer climates. Common challenges include potential susceptibility to leaf spot and rust diseases, as well as pests like aphids. During spring, it's important to prune muhly to stimulate new growth, while in autumn, muhly often puts on a spectacular display of flowers. Its resilience to cold makes it easy to maintain in the winter as well.
How to Water Muhly?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Muhly?
How to Propagate Muhly?
How to Plant Muhly?
Exploring the Muhly Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Lindheimer's muhly
This tall grass is used for ornamental landscaping in full sun locations. Lindheimer's muhly is deer-resistant and grows in clusters tall enough to provide screening for other garden features. It flowers in autumn with light-colored, lacy panicles.
Pink muhly grass
Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is an ornamental grass that features pink and purple blossoms. This species is known to attract beneficial insect species and is also considered an excellent wildlife habitat plant due to its clumping behavior.
Deergrass
Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens) is a perennial that grows to 91 cm tall. It looks similar to pampas grass but without the razor-sharp leaves. A warm-season plant, it grows in clumps and features pointed, 61 cm-long spear-like leaves that gracefully bend in a flowing manner like a fountain. Silver flowers bloom in summer and are used in basket-making.
Nimblewill
You'll see nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi), a perennial grass, in lots of lawns in eastern North America. It's commonly called "Nimblewill" because of the incredible speed with which it grows. It does best in shady areas.
Foxtail muhly
Foxtail muhly (Muhlenbergia andina) is a grass native to various parts of North America. It is grows in moist habitats.
Scratch grass
The Muhlenbergia asperifolia is native to most parts in North America and some areas in South America. Also known as scratch grass, the species is valuable for revegetation and habitat restoration.
Gulf muhly
Gulf muhly is an important grass for coastal ecological communities, as its root system has the ability to keep the soil stabilized. It features purple, feathery-like inflorescence, which makes it a popular ornamental plant. The grass has historic importance as well - it was often used as a material for basket weaving among Seminole Native Americans and Gullah African Americans.
Annual muhly
Annual muhly is a wispy annual grass native to the western United States and parts of Mexico. Mulenbergia minutissima (Muhlenbergia minutissima) is named after successful botanist Henry Muhlenberg. Traditionally the grass has been used in basket weaving.
All Species of Muhly
Lindheimer's muhly
Lindheimer's muhly
This tall grass is used for ornamental landscaping in full sun locations. Lindheimer's muhly is deer-resistant and grows in clusters tall enough to provide screening for other garden features. It flowers in autumn with light-colored, lacy panicles.
Pink muhly grass
Pink muhly grass
Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is an ornamental grass that features pink and purple blossoms. This species is known to attract beneficial insect species and is also considered an excellent wildlife habitat plant due to its clumping behavior.
Deergrass
Deergrass
Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens) is a perennial that grows to 91 cm tall. It looks similar to pampas grass but without the razor-sharp leaves. A warm-season plant, it grows in clumps and features pointed, 61 cm-long spear-like leaves that gracefully bend in a flowing manner like a fountain. Silver flowers bloom in summer and are used in basket-making.
Nimblewill
Nimblewill
You'll see nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi), a perennial grass, in lots of lawns in eastern North America. It's commonly called "Nimblewill" because of the incredible speed with which it grows. It does best in shady areas.
Foxtail muhly
Foxtail muhly
Foxtail muhly (Muhlenbergia andina) is a grass native to various parts of North America. It is grows in moist habitats.
Scratch grass
Scratch grass
The Muhlenbergia asperifolia is native to most parts in North America and some areas in South America. Also known as scratch grass, the species is valuable for revegetation and habitat restoration.
Gulf muhly
Gulf muhly
Gulf muhly is an important grass for coastal ecological communities, as its root system has the ability to keep the soil stabilized. It features purple, feathery-like inflorescence, which makes it a popular ornamental plant. The grass has historic importance as well - it was often used as a material for basket weaving among Seminole Native Americans and Gullah African Americans.
Annual muhly
Annual muhly
Annual muhly is a wispy annual grass native to the western United States and parts of Mexico. Mulenbergia minutissima (Muhlenbergia minutissima) is named after successful botanist Henry Muhlenberg. Traditionally the grass has been used in basket weaving.
Pull-up muhly
Pull-up muhly
Muhlenbergia filiformis is an annual herb producing clumps of decumbent stems up to 30 centimeters long which root where their nodes touch the substrate. The inflorescence is a narrow, cylindrical array of appressed branches bearing many spikelets each about a millimeter long.
Spiked muhly
Spiked muhly
This grass produces branching stems up to 1.2 meters tall from a network of rhizomes. The inflorescence is a narrow panicle of spikelets which are up to 8 millimeters long.
Bush muhly
Bush muhly
Muhlenbergia porteri is a perennial bunchgrass producing wiry knotted stems up to about 80 centimeters tall. The inflorescence is an open array of spreading thread-thin branches bearing small awned spikelets. The bloom period is spring and summer.
Japanese muhly
Japanese muhly
Japanese muhly is a perennial grass with a wide, clumping growth habit. It is distinctive for its slender, arching leaves and the delicate, feathery appearance of its seed heads, which emerge in late summer to fall. This species thrives in a variety of environments, particularly adapting well to moist, well-drained soils. An elegant addition to meadows and naturalized areas, japanese muhly's soft texture and subtle green hues enhance its surroundings with gentle movement as it sways in the breeze.
Muhlenbergia huegelii
Muhlenbergia huegelii
Muhlenbergia huegelii is a graceful perennial grass that thrives in open, sunny habitats. With its fine-textured, wiry foliage, muhlenbergia huegelii forms dense, fountain-like clumps, showcasing delicate flower spikes that dance on slender stems. The plant's elegant structure and feathery inflorescences contribute to its aesthetic appeal in natural and landscaped settings, encouraging biodiversity by attracting pollinators.
Mountain muhly
Mountain muhly
Mountain muhly is a perennial grass that thrives in the open, rocky areas of mountainous regions. It is distinguished by its dense tufted clumps and slender green leaves, which culminate in airy, delicate flower spikes. As an adaptive species, mountain muhly has a robust root system, enabling its survival in the harsh, well-drained soils it prefers. Its graceful form and survival strategies reflect a specialized harmony with the challenging alpine environment.
Ring muhly
Ring muhly
Ring muhly is a perennial grass characterized by its fine-textured, wiry leaves and a growth habit that forms compact tufts. It flourishes in open, rocky habitats, adapting well to arid conditions. In late summer to fall, ring muhly displays delicate, purplish inflorescences that rise above the foliage, creating a misty, feather-like appearance. This distinct flowering adds to its identification and ecological niche as a habitat stabilizer and visual highlight in native grasslands.
Curlyleaf muhly
Curlyleaf muhly
Curlyleaf muhly is a delicate grass often found swaying in breezy, open landscapes. Its fine, wiry leaves create a feathery texture, while its slender life form reaches confidently towards the sun. The plant flourishes in well-drained soils, showcasing an array of airy flower spikes that dance atop thin stems, embodying the untamed spirit of its natural habitat.
Bullgrass
Bullgrass
Bullgrass is a graceful perennial grass known for its dense, clumping form with fine, arching blue-green foliage. As late summer gives way to fall, the plant showcases clouds of delicate, feathery reddish-brown flower plumes that persist into winter, providing striking contrast in dry landscapes and adding movement to garden settings. Tolerant of drought and poor soils, bullgrass thrives in arid environments where it becomes a bastion of resilience and subtle beauty.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Muhly
Muhlenbergia
Muhly are robust, dense-growing grasses, mostly growing in arid regions; thus, they are well adapted to drought. Many species are fodder plants so palatable to foraging animals that they are usually eliminated from pastures and wherever livestock can access them. Several species are showy and used in horticulture as decorative grasses. The Latin name comes from Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg (1753-1815), a Lutheran minister, self-taught botanist, and one of the first U.S. scientists.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
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Key Facts About Muhly
Feedback
Attributes of Muhly
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
10 - 35 ℃
Scientific Classification of Muhly
Distribution of Muhly
Feedback
Distribution Map of Muhly
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Muhly
Feedback
Muhly, often referred to as 'Muhly Grass', is a versatile plant genus with an easy-going care profile. It generally thrives in full sun to partial shade, moderate watering, and well-draining soil conditions. It's tolerant to varied temperature ranges, although it grows best in warmer climates. Common challenges include potential susceptibility to leaf spot and rust diseases, as well as pests like aphids. During spring, it's important to prune muhly to stimulate new growth, while in autumn, muhly often puts on a spectacular display of flowers. Its resilience to cold makes it easy to maintain in the winter as well.
How to Water Muhly?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Muhly?
How to Propagate Muhly?
How to Plant Muhly?
Exploring the Muhly Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Lindheimer's muhly
This tall grass is used for ornamental landscaping in full sun locations. Lindheimer's muhly is deer-resistant and grows in clusters tall enough to provide screening for other garden features. It flowers in autumn with light-colored, lacy panicles.
Pink muhly grass
Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is an ornamental grass that features pink and purple blossoms. This species is known to attract beneficial insect species and is also considered an excellent wildlife habitat plant due to its clumping behavior.
Deergrass
Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens) is a perennial that grows to 91 cm tall. It looks similar to pampas grass but without the razor-sharp leaves. A warm-season plant, it grows in clumps and features pointed, 61 cm-long spear-like leaves that gracefully bend in a flowing manner like a fountain. Silver flowers bloom in summer and are used in basket-making.
Nimblewill
You'll see nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi), a perennial grass, in lots of lawns in eastern North America. It's commonly called "Nimblewill" because of the incredible speed with which it grows. It does best in shady areas.
Show More Species
All Species of Muhly
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
