Pink Flamingo Muhly is an eye-catching ornamental hybrid and part of the warm-season grass family, Poaceae. Standing tall at 3 to 4 feet and spreading 2 to 3 feet wide, it showcases a lovely clump of narrow, wispy, bluish-green grass. From September to October, this plant shines as its leaves are adorned with beautiful, airy clouds of bright pink flower plumes. As time passes, these flowers age gracefully to a silvery-gray hue, and by mid-November, the plant rests in dormancy.
This charming plant was discovered at the Peckerwood Garden in Hempstead, Texas, and is believed to be a hybrid between Muhlenbergia capillaris (better known as Muhly grass) and Muhlenbergia linheimeri (commonly called Lindheimer’s Muhly). While Muhly grass offers delightful puffy pink seed heads, Lindheimer’s Muhly graces gardens with its tall, wispy plumes, creating a lovely blend of their best features in Pink Flamingo Muhly.
The genus Muhlenbergia pays tribute to the remarkable Gotthilf Muhlenberg, a botanist, chemist, and mineralogist who lived from 1753 to 1815. He is well-respected for classifying and naming over 150 plant species in his Index Flora Lancastriensis, published back in 1785. For the best results, Pink Flamingo Muhly thrives in full sun but can also tolerate some partial shade. It’s a resilient, heat-loving grass that does well with low to moderate moisture. This tough plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it an excellent choice for USDA hardiness zones 6 to 10. As one of the most stunning native grasses, Pink Flamingo Muhly is sure to brighten up any garden. While it can stand beautifully on its own, for a truly spectacular display, consider planting it in groups or masses to create a breathtaking landscape feature.
Height: 3’-4’ Spread: 2’-3’ Bloom: Fall Light: Full Sun Water: Low Zone: 6-10 Origin: Texas
