Ruby Muhly
Muhlenbergia
Muhly
Named in honor of G. H. E. Muhlenberg, a botanist who specialized in grasses, this large, varied genus includes some of the most visually stunning and enduring ornamental grasses for today’s landscape. Primarily native to arid range areas of the southern U.S. and Mexico, many Muhlenbergias boast not only arresting inflorescences and foliage, but an exceptional tolerance to heat, sun and drought, plus limited amounts of dappled shade each day, as long as the soil has sharp drainage.
Though the species is indigenous to the limestone outcroppings of northern Texas and southwestern Oklahoma, this amazing seed strain was collected near Fort Worth, TX by Lauren Springer and Scott Ogden, and subsequently introduced by Colorado’s Plant Select program. A small growing, warm season grass, Ruby Muhly’s fine-hewn green blades form a long-lived dense tussock beneath spectacular gauze-like reddish mauve inflorescences that appear earlier and are less pink than Muhlenbergia capillaris. Undaunted pretty much sums it up—the tailored compact habit performing heroically in cold, drought, heavy clay, sweltering heat and southern humidity. Warm tawny-brown winter interest coupled with an easy-care en masse presence make it indispensable.
Blooms August–October
Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.
Hardy to zone 5.
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