Muhlenbergia capillaris
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Hairgrass, Muhly Grass
Poaceae (Gramineae)
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Grass | |
| Size: | 2 to 3 (4) ft tall by 1.0 to 3.5 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Pink/purple | |
| Fruit Color: | Pink/purple | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen. Forms dense clumps. Blooms in mid- fall. | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Hedge, specimen plant, mass planting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Once the pink flower/seed heads are at their peak, the tiny seeds can be collected using a comb. It readily self seeds, with seeds that fall into cracks and crevices in rocks or pavement tending to do well. Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | FNPS plant sales, Quality nurseries, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Clay, Lime rock, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Adaptable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Muhly grass forms a low canopy that small animals can use for shelter and refuge. Small birds eat the seeds. | |
| Insects: | ||
| Native Habitats: | Flatwoods, marshes, scrub. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | Also known as sweetgrass, which has been used for coiled basketry, particularly in the "low country" of South Carolina, Georgia, and northeast Florida, by people of the Gullah Culture. | |
| General Comments: | There are three subspecies included in this description. Together, they are found in all coastal counties of Florida and many inland ones. As a grass, it is likely undercollected and it has likely been excluded by many agricultural practices, so at least one of these subspecies is potentially native throughout Florida. Muhlenbergia capillaris var. capillaris is the subspecies that is most commonly available from nurseries. |