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Muhlenbergia sericea (Gulf Muhly) - A medium-sized grass forming a clump of narrow blue-green foliage 2 to 3 feet tall and in fall the flower stems rise another foot or more above the foliage holding an airy mass of delicate dark pink flowers that can last through winter, depending on the climate. It is a little larger and stiffer with a more upright habit than the familiar Pink Muhly, Muhlenbergia capillaris, and it also blooms a little later.
Plant in full sun in a wide range of soils. It is fairly drought tolerant, but this southeastern US grass will likely appreciate occasional irrigation in our dry California climate. Noted as hardy to USDA Zone 6 but flowers are apt to last through to spring in Zones 9 and above and it reportedly is resistant to deer predation. A great grass for it stunning look in mass plantings.
Muhlenbergia sericea grows naturally in sandy maritime habitats on the barrier islands and in coastal woodlands of the southeastern United States. The German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber (1739-1810) named the genus for Gotthilf Heinrich (Henry) Ernst Muhlenberg (1753-1815) who was American born but returned to his ancestral Germany for schooling and later returned to America. He was an ordained Lutheran minister but devoted his free time to the study of the botany. The specific epithet is the Latin word meaning "silky", in reference to this species' very soft open inflorescences.
There has long been controversy regarding the Muhlenbergia capillaris in the trade and how it differs from the larger and more southerly restricted Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filipes, that more recently has been elevated to species level as Muhlenbergia sericea in the Flora of North America.
There has long been controversy regarding the Muhlenbergia capillaris in the trade and how it differs from the larger and more southerly restricted Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filipes, that more recently has been elevated to species level as Muhlenbergia sericea in the Flora of North America. This plant made its California debut in John Greenlee's meadow display at our 40th anniversary 2019 Field Day and our current crop is all from seed off of one of the display plants. We also grow the white form of this plant that is called 'White Cloud'.
This information about Muhlenbergia sericea displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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