Muhlenbergia 'Pink Muhly Grass'

Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Pink Muhly Grass': Cotton Candy Clouds for Autumn Glow

Light as air and utterly enchanting, Pink Muhly Grass floats into the fall garden with a cloud of airy pink plumes that hover above fine green foliage like spun sugar. In late summer to early fall, the plant erupts in a mist of rose-pink panicles that shimmer in low light and glow against autumn skies. Its graceful, arching habit forms a neat mound of narrow blades, offering soft texture all season before transitioning to warm beige tones in winter. A showstopper in full sun and dry soils, this native ornamental grass delivers high drama with low effort.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 60–90 cm (foliage); 90–120 cm in flower
• Spread: 60–75 cm
• Flower Colour: Airy rose-pink
• Flowering Period: Late summer to mid fall
• Foliage: Fine, thread-like green blades; bronze-beige in winter
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil; thrives in sandy or dry conditions

Uses and Benefits: Pink Muhly Grass is an outstanding choice for adding colour, softness, and movement to dry borders, rock gardens, and naturalistic designs. Its airy plumes contrast beautifully with bolder perennials, while the fine foliage remains neat and attractive throughout the growing season. Deer resistant, drought tolerant, and low maintenance, it thrives in poor soils where other plants struggle.

Companion Plants: Combine Pink Muhly Grass with Aster oblongifolius 'October Skies' for a cool, lavender-blue carpet that plays off the warm pink plumes. Add Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' for upright violet spires that provide rich contrast. Finish with Sedum 'Autumn Joy', whose dusty rose blooms mature to copper, echoing the grass’s soft hues and seasonal timing.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce as plants become drought tolerant. Avoid heavy, wet soils in winter. Cut back foliage in early spring to allow fresh growth. Division is rarely needed but may be done in spring if desired.

History: Native to the southeastern United States, Muhlenbergia capillaris has gained widespread popularity in ornamental gardening for its delicate texture and unforgettable fall display. It is well suited to xeriscapes and meadows, and brings a distinctly North American beauty to cultivated spaces.

Final Thoughts: With its billowing pink blooms and feather-light form, Pink Muhly Grass turns autumn into a spectacle—graceful, glowing, and unmistakably magical.