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Big Muhly

Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

Other common name(s):

Lindheimer's Muhly

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Semiarid Edwards Bajada
Northern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Calcareous, Well Drained, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Forage, Nesting Material

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Deer

Maintenance

Can be cut back in mid-February but this grass benefits from not being cut back. Early spring: Old leaves can be raked from the new growth. Large enough to act as screening. Propagation: Seed.

Comments

Clumping blue-green, elegant, tall grass. Feather-like blooms in fall; leave foliage through winter for interest. Slow to recover if cut back. Native Habitat: Limestone uplands near streams of the Edwards Plateau Provides seeds, denning and nesting material if foliage is left through winter for interest. Replaces Invasives: Pampas grass.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 130. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MULI. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Muhlenbergia+lindheimeri&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=18552&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=41922#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014., 8) Hatch, Umphres, Ardoin, 2015, Field Guide to Common Texas Grasses, pg 191

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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