You know it’s Fall in Florida when the absolutely stunning pink muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris, is in full bloom. Have you seen the dusky-pink plumes of this Florida native ornamental grass blooming lately? I love it when there’s a bit of a breeze and the plumes dance about.
Pink muhly grass is an easy to grow plant that everyone needs in their gardens. Plant it in a sun or part sun area in the usual moist but well draining soil, and it’ll quickly grow to 3-4′ tall and wide. The plumes add about another foot or two to the height.
The faded seed heads feed the birds in the winter, so please leave them be. To keep it looking tidy, you can simply do some cleaning out of the old growth when the new growths shows back up in the spring. Or, in early February you can prune the whole plant back to about 1′ from the ground. It can be divided every four or five years when the clump gets large.
Another cool fact about pink muhly grass is it attracts ladybugs! Adult and nymph Ladybugs, of course, eat those nasty aphids that like to suck the life out of our plants. According to the Texas Master Naturalist Program: “One ladybug nymph will eat about 400 aphids during the 3 weeks before it pupates. By the end of their 3- to 6-week life cycle, the ladybug may eat up to 5,000 aphids.”
I know you want some of these beauties! So click here, Pink Muhly Grass, to be taken to its description page which is where you can place your order.
Happy diggin’ in the dirt!
Jeanni and Ziva
Bella Jardins Boutique
Beautiful Gardens Begin Here
