Muhly Grass, Hairawn Muhly

Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin.

muh-len-BERG-ee-ah cap-ill-LAIR-iss

Poaceae

Explanation of name: Muhlenbergia commemorates G. H. Muhlenberg, 1756-1817 (HIT). Capillaris comes from Latin capillus, hair.

Synonyms: Muhlenbergia expansa (DC.) Trin., M. filipes M. A. Curtis (HIT, WU1, YAR)

Natural range: New England to the West Indies to Mexico. Native to Florida (HIT, WU2).  Habitats extremely diverse, including flatwoods, marshes, and dunes. Generally sunny, sandy and alkaline, though sometimes acid. Can occur naturally in saline habitats (HAE, HIT, YAR)

Recognition: Clumping, slender grasses to about 3(-5) feet tall, with eye-catching light-purplish, wispy flower clusters in fall, becoming brown in winter

Landscape uses: Best in masses, clumps, and drifts where the diffuse pinkish-purplish seasonal flower clusters can merge visually into a misty haze. May look weedy when not in flower. Prefers sandy habitats with ample moisture and sun (HIT), and tolerates comparatively dry sites, then with small stature and compromised appearance. This tough species is useful in naturalistic, low maintenance settings; it has reasonable tolerance to environmental extremes, including salt.

Notes: Muhly Grass historically was important as “Sweet Grass” for making baskets, especially for harvesting rice (YAR). This is one species from a very large genus of range grasses prominent in the western U.S.