176 Species in Genus Muhlenbergia

Muhlenbergia: A Love Affair with the Muhly Grasses

My name is Ferb Vu, and I have a confession to make: I’m utterly captivated by Muhlenbergia, the genus of grasses commonly known as the muhlys. These plants belong to the Poaceae family, with their airy inflorescences and graceful habits, have completely stolen my heart. Their beauty is a subtle one, not shouting for attention but whispering promises of delicate textures and captivating movement.

Perhaps it’s their adaptability that I admire most. Muhly grasses thrive in a variety of habitats, from arid deserts to moist meadows. They’re tough, resilient, and possess an understated elegance that I find incredibly appealing. They seem to embody the spirit of resilience, thriving where other plants struggle.

Or maybe it’s the sheer diversity within the genus that fascinates me. Over 175 species of Muhlenbergia exist, each with its own unique characteristics. Some, like Muhlenbergia capillaris, paint the landscape with clouds of pink inflorescences in the fall. Others, like Muhlenbergia rigens, stand tall and erect, their rigid stems creating a striking architectural presence.

A Closer Look at the Muhlys

1. Muhlenbergia aguascalientensis Y.Herrera & De la Cerda
2. Muhlenbergia alamosae Vasey
3. Muhlenbergia alopecuroides (Griseb.) P.M.Peterson & Columbus
4. Muhlenbergia andina (Nutt.) Hitchc.
5. Muhlenbergia × angustata (J.Presl) Kunth
6. Muhlenbergia annua (Vasey) Swallen
7. Muhlenbergia appressa Goodd.
8. Muhlenbergia arenacea (Buckley) Hitchc.
9. Muhlenbergia arenicola Buckley
10. Muhlenbergia argentea Vasey
11. Muhlenbergia arizonica Scribn.
12. Muhlenbergia arsenei Hitchc.
13. Muhlenbergia articulata Scribn.
14. Muhlenbergia asperifolia (Nees & Meyen ex Trin.) Parodi
15. Muhlenbergia atacamensis Parodi
16. Muhlenbergia aurea Swallen
17. Muhlenbergia beyrichiana Kunth
18. Muhlenbergia biloba Hitchc.
19. Muhlenbergia brandegeei C.Reeder
20. Muhlenbergia brevifolia Scribn. ex Beal
21. Muhlenbergia breviligula Hitchc.
22. Muhlenbergia brevis Goodd.
23. Muhlenbergia breviseta E.Fourn.
24. Muhlenbergia brevivaginata Swallen
25. Muhlenbergia bryophilus (Döll) P.M.Peterson
26. Muhlenbergia bushii R.W.Pohl
27. Muhlenbergia californica Vasey
28. Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. Plant FAQs: Pink Muhly Grass – Muhlenbergia Capillaris
29. Muhlenbergia capillipes (M.E.Jones) P.M.Peterson & Annable
30. Muhlenbergia caxamarcensis Laegaard & Sánchez Vega
31. Muhlenbergia cenchroides (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) P.M.Peterson
32. Muhlenbergia ciliata (Kunth) Kunth
33. Muhlenbergia coerulea (Griseb.) Mez
34. Muhlenbergia crispiseta Hitchc.
35. Muhlenbergia cristaliae Vigosa
36. Muhlenbergia cualensis Y.Herrera & P.M.Peterson
37. Muhlenbergia curtifolia Scribn.
38. Muhlenbergia curtisetosa (Scribn.) Bush
39. Muhlenbergia curviaristata (Ohwi) Ohwi
40. Muhlenbergia cuspidata (Torr. ex Hook.) Rydb.
41. Muhlenbergia decumbens Swallen
42. Muhlenbergia depauperata Scribn.
43. Muhlenbergia diandra (R.W.Pohl) P.M.Peterson
44. Muhlenbergia distichophylla (J.Presl) Kunth
45. Muhlenbergia diversiglumis Trin.
46. Muhlenbergia dubia E.Fourn. Plant FAQs: Muhlenbergia Dubia – Pine Muhly
47. Muhlenbergia dumosa Scribn. ex Vasey
48. Muhlenbergia durangensis Y.Herrera
49. Muhlenbergia duthieana Hack.
50. Muhlenbergia elongata Scribn. ex Beal
51. Muhlenbergia eludens C.Reeder
52. Muhlenbergia emersleyi Vasey
53. Muhlenbergia eriophylla Swallen
54. Muhlenbergia expansa (Poir.) Trin.
55. Muhlenbergia fastigiata (J.Presl) Henrard
56. Muhlenbergia filiculmis Vasey
57. Muhlenbergia filiformis (Thurb.) Rydb.
58. Muhlenbergia flabellata Mez
59. Muhlenbergia flavida Vasey
60. Muhlenbergia flaviseta Scribn.
61. Muhlenbergia flexuosa Hitchc.
62. Muhlenbergia fragilis Swallen
63. Muhlenbergia frondosa (Poir.) Fernald
64. Muhlenbergia glabrifloris Scribn.
65. Muhlenbergia glauca (Nees) Mez
66. Muhlenbergia glomerata (Willd.) Trin.
67. Muhlenbergia grandis Vasey
68. Muhlenbergia gypsophila C.Reeder & Reeder
69. Muhlenbergia hakonensis (Hack.) Makino
70. Muhlenbergia himalayensis Hack. ex Hook.f.
71. Muhlenbergia hintonii Swallen
72. Muhlenbergia huegelii Trin.
73. Muhlenbergia implicata (Kunth) Trin.
74. Muhlenbergia inaequalis Soderstr.
75. Muhlenbergia involuta Swallen
76. Muhlenbergia iridifolia Soderstr.
77. Muhlenbergia jaime-hintonii P.M.Peterson & Valdés-Reyna
78. Muhlenbergia jaliscana Swallen
79. Muhlenbergia japonica Steud.
80. Muhlenbergia jonesii (Vasey) Hitchc.
81. Muhlenbergia laxa Hitchc.
82. Muhlenbergia lehmanniana Henrard
83. Muhlenbergia ligularis (Hack.) Hitchc.
84. Muhlenbergia ligulata (E.Fourn.) Scribn. & Merr.
85. Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Hitchc. Plant FAQs: Muhlenbergia Lindheimeri
86. Muhlenbergia longiglumis Vasey
87. Muhlenbergia longiligula Hitchc.
88. Muhlenbergia lucida Swallen
89. Muhlenbergia macroura (Kunth) Hitchc.
90. Muhlenbergia majalcensis P.M.Peterson
91. Muhlenbergia maxima Laegaard & Sánchez Vega
92. Muhlenbergia mexicana (L.) Trin.
93. Muhlenbergia michisensis Y.Herrera & P.M.Peterson
94. Muhlenbergia microsperma (DC.) Kunth
95. Muhlenbergia minutissima (Steud.) Swallen
96. Muhlenbergia monandra Alegría & Rúgolo
97. Muhlenbergia montana (Nutt.) Hitchc.
98. Muhlenbergia mucronata (Kunth) Trin.
99. Muhlenbergia multiflora Columbus
100. Muhlenbergia mutica (Rupr. ex Galeotti) Hitchc.
101. Muhlenbergia myanmarensis Arum., G.V.S.Murthy & V.J.Nair
102. Muhlenbergia nigra Hitchc.
103. Muhlenbergia orophila Swallen
104. Muhlenbergia palmeri Vasey
105. Muhlenbergia palmirensis Grignon & Laegaard
106. Muhlenbergia paniculata (Nutt.) P.M.Peterson
107. Muhlenbergia pauciflora Buckley
108. Muhlenbergia pectinata Goodd.
109. Muhlenbergia pereilema P.M.Peterson
110. Muhlenbergia peruviana (P.Beauv.) Steud.
111. Muhlenbergia phalaroides (Kunth) P.M.Peterson
112. Muhlenbergia phleoides (Kunth) P.M.Peterson
113. Muhlenbergia pilosa P.M.Peterson, Wipff & S.D.Jones
114. Muhlenbergia plumbea (Trin.) Hitchc.
115. Muhlenbergia plumiseta Columbus
116. Muhlenbergia polycaulis Scribn.
117. Muhlenbergia porteri Scribn.
118. Muhlenbergia pubescens (Kunth) Hitchc.
119. Muhlenbergia pubigluma Swallen
120. Muhlenbergia pungens Thurb.
121. Muhlenbergia purpusii Mez
122. Muhlenbergia quadridentata (Kunth) Trin.
123. Muhlenbergia racemosa (Michx.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
124. Muhlenbergia rakhchamensis Arum., G.V.S.Murthy & V.J.Nair
125. Muhlenbergia ramosa (Hack.) Makino
126. Muhlenbergia ramulosa (Kunth) Swallen
127. Muhlenbergia reederorum Soderstr.
128. Muhlenbergia repens (J.Presl) Hitchc.
129. Muhlenbergia reverchonii Vasey & Scribn.
130. Muhlenbergia richardsonis (Trin.) Rydb.
131. Muhlenbergia rigens (Benth.) Hitchc. Plant FAQs: Muhlenbergia Rigens
132. Muhlenbergia rigida (Kunth) Kunth
133. Muhlenbergia robusta (E.Fourn.) Hitchc.
134. Muhlenbergia romaschenkoi P.M.Peterson
135. Muhlenbergia schmitzii Hack.
136. Muhlenbergia schreberi J.F.Gmel. Plant FAQs: Muhlenbergia Schreberi – Nimblewill
137. Muhlenbergia scoparia Vasey
138. Muhlenbergia seatonii Scribn.
139. Muhlenbergia sericea (Michx.) P.M.Peterson
140. Muhlenbergia setarioides E.Fourn.
141. Muhlenbergia setifolia Vasey
142. Muhlenbergia shepherdii (Vasey) Swallen
143. Muhlenbergia sinuosa Swallen
144. Muhlenbergia sobolifera (Muhl. ex Willd.) Trin.
145. Muhlenbergia solisii (G.A.Levin) P.M.Peterson
146. Muhlenbergia spatha Columbus
147. Muhlenbergia speciosa Vasey
148. Muhlenbergia spiciformis Trin.
149. Muhlenbergia straminea Hitchc.
150. Muhlenbergia stricta (J.Presl) Kunth
151. Muhlenbergia strictior Beal
152. Muhlenbergia subaristata Swallen
153. Muhlenbergia subbiflora Hitchc.
154. Muhlenbergia sylvatica Torr.
155. Muhlenbergia tarahumara P.M.Peterson & Columbus
156. Muhlenbergia tenella (Kunth) Trin.
157. Muhlenbergia tenuiflora (Willd.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
158. Muhlenbergia tenuifolia (Kunth) Kunth
159. Muhlenbergia tenuissima (J.Presl) Kunth
160. Muhlenbergia texana Buckley
161. Muhlenbergia thurberi (Scribn.) Rydb.
162. Muhlenbergia torreyana (Schult.) Hitchc.
163. Muhlenbergia torreyi (Kunth) Hitchc. ex Bush
164. Muhlenbergia tricholepis (Torr.) P.M.Peterson
165. Muhlenbergia uniflora (Muhl.) Fernald
166. Muhlenbergia uniseta (Lag.) Columbus
167. Muhlenbergia utilis (Torr.) Hitchc.
168. Muhlenbergia vaginata Swallen
169. Muhlenbergia venezuelae Luces
170. Muhlenbergia versicolor Swallen
171. Muhlenbergia villiflora Hitchc.
172. Muhlenbergia virescens (Kunth) Kunth
173. Muhlenbergia virletii (E.Fourn.) Soderstr.
174. Muhlenbergia watsoniana Hitchc.
175. Muhlenbergia wrightii Vasey ex J.M.Coult.
176. Muhlenbergia xanthodas Soderstr.

Why I Advocate for Muhly Grasses

My admiration for muhly grasses extends beyond their aesthetic appeal. These plants are incredibly valuable in ecological restoration and sustainable landscaping. They’re drought-tolerant, requiring minimal water once established, and they provide crucial habitat and food sources for wildlife.

Muhly grasses also play a vital role in soil conservation. Their extensive root systems help prevent erosion, and their dense growth habit can suppress weeds. In a world facing increasing environmental challenges, these grasses offer sustainable solutions for landscaping and land management.

Muhly Grasses in the Garden

Incorporating muhly grasses into your garden is a rewarding endeavor. They provide multi-season interest, with their foliage offering texture and movement throughout the growing season and their inflorescences stealing the show in the fall.

Whether you’re looking to create a meadow-like planting, add a touch of whimsy to a border, or provide erosion control on a slope, there’s a muhly grass that’s perfect for the job.

Here are a few tips for growing muhly grasses:

• Choose the right species: Consider your climate, soil conditions, and the desired size and appearance of the plant.
• Plant in full sun: Muhly grasses thrive in sunny locations.
• Provide well-drained soil: While adaptable, muhlys don’t tolerate soggy conditions.
• Cut back in late winter or early spring: This encourages fresh growth and prevents the plants from becoming too woody.

With minimal care, muhly grasses will reward you with years of beauty and ecological benefits.

A Continuing Fascination

My journey with Muhlenbergia is an ongoing one. I’m constantly learning more about these fascinating plants, discovering new species, and exploring their potential in different landscape settings.

I encourage you to join me in appreciating the understated beauty and ecological value of muhly grasses. They’re a gift to the gardener and the environment, offering a unique blend of resilience, adaptability, and captivating charm.