| |
|
|
|
|
Member Pages |
A knee high purple haze in the distance may not be an atmospheric event, but the effect created by the wispy, purplish flower heads in a dense stand of Gulf muhlygrass. This is a showy clump forming grass that can get to 3 ft (0.9 m) tall and just as wide. The stems and leaves are wirelike and unbranched, originating from a dense basal clump. (Muhlygrass does not produce runners.) The purplish-red or pink inflorescence is a diffuse, silky panicle, 18 in (45.7 cm) long and 10 in (25.4 cm) wide, that stands above the wiry leaves. It appears in late summer, and persists for 6-8 weeks. The ripe seeds that follow give an attractive tan color to the wispy plumes.
Gulf muhlygrass occurs in eastern North America from Kansas to Massachusetts and south to Florida, Texas and Mexico, and in the West Indies. It can occur as an isolated plant or in dense stands where it is the only grass. Gulf muhlygrass occurs in wet prairies, savannas, and the outer edges of marshes, and also in well drained upland pine forests. It is frequently found near the coast in interdune swales. There are some 60 species in the Muhlenbergia genus, and some are important range grasses in western North America.
Culture
Gulf muhlygrass is used in borders and perennial gardens where a fine textured foliage is desired to accent bolder specimens. It makes an excellent groundcover for areas with poor soils, or a refined specimen grass in natural gardens. Gulf muhlygrass is tolerant of salt spray and poor soils. Once established, it needs no care. Muhlygrass is recommended for road shoulders and medians.
Features Steve Christman 11/18/99; updated 1/18/04
|
NEW at Floridata
Plant Profiles:
Articles:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Get link
