Bamboo muhly

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; best with some afternoon shade in very hot inland gardens.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then deeply during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate drought but look fuller with occasional summer watering.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil; tolerates relatively poor soil but dislikes waterlogged ground, especially in winter.

Height

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Small, inconspicuous greenish flowers in late summer to autumn, becoming tan; grown mainly for foliage.

Foliage

Evergreen. Very narrow, soft green leaves carried along slender, branching stems, giving an open, feathery appearance.

Growth

Moderate to fast in warm weather.

Care needed

Low

• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (0.93 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply through the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Keep the crown out of standing water; use a container or raised bed where winter drainage is poor.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Apply a thin mulch around the clump, keeping it clear of the stems.
• In colder climates, grow in a container and overwinter in a bright, frost-free place.

Pruning. In spring, after the risk of hard frost has passed, remove dead or frost-damaged stems at the base and lightly thin congested growth. Avoid routinely shearing the whole clump to the ground, which removes its branching framework and can leave it slow to regain its shape.

Spring

Remove dead stems once frost risk has passed and new growth is visible.

Late spring

Plant or divide once the soil is warm, and water thoroughly.

Summer

Water young plants regularly; give established clumps a deep soak during extended drought.

Autumn

Leave healthy stems standing and check that drainage is clear before wetter weather.

Late autumn

Move container plants under bright, frost-free cover where winters are too cold.

Winter

Water sheltered container plants sparingly, keeping the root ball from drying out completely.

• Plant behind agaves or aloes to contrast soft foliage with bold, sculptural leaves.
• Repeat loose clumps through gravel gardens for movement without a dense visual barrier.
• Use beside a patio or courtyard wall as a light, informal screen in warm climates.
• Grow in a large container where the arching stems can be seen against a plain background.

Garden styles it suits: Desert modern, Modern Mediterranean, Southwestern, Dry gravel garden, Desert / xeriscape and Modern courtyard.

Plant it with: Red yucca, Parry's agave, Autumn sage, Desert marigold, Pink muhly grass and Trailing lantana.

Wildlife: Dense clumps provide shelter for insects and small garden animals. The flowers are wind-pollinated rather than a useful nectar source.

• Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and replace badly rotted plants.
• Frost-browned foliage or stem dieback: wait until spring to remove damaged growth; shelter containers before freezing weather.
• Sparse, floppy growth in deep shade: move to a brighter position and avoid excessive feeding.
• Brown leaf tips during prolonged drought: water deeply and check that container roots have not become severely crowded.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is recognized as poisonous. It is an ornamental grass, not a food plant.

• Mexican weeping bamboo (Otatea acuminata)

  A true bamboo with much taller, woody canes and long, drooping leaves; bamboo muhly forms a smaller, softer mound with very fine foliage.

• Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

  Has leaves concentrated near the base and conspicuous pink flower clouds in autumn, rather than leafy, branching, bamboo-like stems.

Muhlenbergia honors botanist Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg, while dumosa means bushy, referring to the plant's branching growth.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in late spring or early summer as active growth begins. Use a sharp spade or saw, retain roots and several healthy stems on each division, and keep watered until established.

Accepted botanical name

Muhlenbergia dumosa

Native range

Arizona, Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest and Mexico Southwest.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.