Lindheimer Muhly: A Grass for All Seasons
|
Email Page
Print Page
|
|
|
Extras
|
Add Photo to Journal
|
|
| Photo Credit: Dr. David L. Morgan |
| Ornamental grass grower John Snowden shows off the lush growth of Lindheimer muhly in a mass planting in Dallas. |
This autumn, as you cast your eyes about the neighborhood for attractive landscape color and nice fall plants, you’ll no doubt notice ornamental grasses. Unlike most other plants, many grasses are their showiest as the days shorten and the temperatures drop. That’s when beauties like Lindheimer muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri) flower and produce seed.
Muhly grasses – and there are several species of them – are at least three-season plants. In spring they emerge with fresh, green leaves. Summertime brings height and maturity. But in fall – especially around October – these grasses show off their best features: graceful, arching seed heads and silvery fall colors. Some gardeners even get a fourth season of interest out of these beauties, allowing them to stand in winter to appreciate their artistic shapes and whitish color. | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Dr. David L. Morgan | | Because Lindheimer muhly is a bunchgrass, it works great as a vertical accent or grouped together in a beautiful waving display. |
Of all the muhly grasses, Lindheimer is my favorite. It does particularly well in the prairie grasslands of the Southwest, where it’s perfectly suited to the region’s high-calcium soils. Its mature height reaches 2-5 feet, and it can grow about 3 feet wide. Because it’s a bunchgrass, it doesn’t spread wildly, and it’s not terribly invasive. In fact, Lindheimer muhly is often suggested as an alternative to that monster of the landscape, the ubiquitous Pampas grass.
|
| Tips |
- When it comes to ornamental grasses, save your money and buy them small. The grasses grow quickly and will fill your garden long before the growing season ends.
|
| Facts |
- You can grow Lindheimer muhly as an annual grass in regions north of Zone 6. It makes an excellent container or back-of-the-border accent.
- After a frost, Lindheimer muhly’s leaves turn almost white and hold the color until new leaves appear in spring.
|
| Faqs |
- Q: Some ornamental grasses are scratchy – is Lindheimer muhly one of them?
A: Nope. Unlike many grasses, this one’s soft to the touch and won’t scratch you.
|
|
|
Page 1 of 2
|
Next Steps
|
Articles
-
Grasses for Fall
Certain ornamental grasses can produce striking effects from fall into winter. Here’s a look at two of them.
-
Say Hello to Ornamental Grasses
Let us introduce you to a wonderful group of plants that offers texture, movement and sound to the garden year-round.
-
Ornamental Grass Care Basics
When properly cared for, ornamental grasses make a wonderful garden addition. Here are some basic care tips to keep your grasses looking beautiful year-round.
|
|
|
|
|