Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Muhlenbergia emersleyi
Plant Common Name
Bull Grass
General Description
Very drought tolerant, bull grass has fine, bluish, gray-green leaf blades that arch into a mound and wispy purple flowers in autumn. A clump-forming perennial grass, it is native to the oak woodlands of the extreme southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico.
As the fresh foliage emerges in spring it is long and narrowly linear, colored a lush blue-green. As summer progresses, the leaves can become more gray-green. In early fall, flower stems rise high above the foliage and at their tips a tufted, loose cluster of tiny pale purple flowers appears, looking very airy. Once fall frosts or seasonal drought deepens, the seedheads turn tan and remain until the next early spring.
Grow bull grass in any well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Tough extremely heat and drought tolerant, it will look much more ornamental if some water is available in spring and summer. Cut back old foliage in late winter and allow the clump to rejuvenate; avoid any type of trimming or severe cutback of foliage on this species in the heat of summer.
Use bull grass as a massed groundcover in a foundation planting or on a hillside, or as an accent in the mixed border or rockery. This xeric plant tolerates reflected heat from asphalt and concrete very well and so can be planted along a driveway
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 10
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Plant Type
Grass
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Width
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Bloom Time
Early Fall, Fall
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Native To
North America, United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
Yes
