
In the landscape
Border · Mass planting · Coastal · Container · Meadow · Naturalized · Riparian · Woodland
Data sources
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris · Ornamental grass
Pink Muhly Grass is a moderate-growing ornamental grass, hardy in USDA zones 5-11, that matures to about 2–3 ft × 2–3 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with low water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect cream, pink and purple blooms in fall. It attracts butterflies, small mammals and songbirds, stands up well to black walnut, deer and drought and grows happily in containers.
- USDA zones
- 5-11
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 2–3 ft × 2–3 ft
- Spacing
- 3–6 ft
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry, Very-dry
- Foliage
- Green
- Bloom color
- Cream, Pink, Purple, Red
- Bloom season
- Fall
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Small mammals, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Black walnut, Deer, Drought, Erosion, Heat, Humidity, Pollution, Poor soil, Salt
- Native to
- Western-central United States
Will it survive your winters?
We score Pink Muhly Grass’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
More plants for your zone: Zone 5 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8 · Zone 9 · Zone 10 · Zone 11
See the Pink Muhly Grass in your own yard
Upload a photo and our AI designs with real plants like this one — matched to your USDA zone.
More grasses
Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinensis
Zones 4–9Full sun
Switchgrass (Heavy Metal)
Panicum virgatum
Zones 5–9Full sun
Mexican Feather Grass
Nassella tenuissima
Zones 7–10Full sun
Blue Fescue
Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’
Zones 4–8Full sun
Fountain Grass
Pennisetum alopecuroides
Zones 6–9Full sun
Japanese Forest Grass
Hakonechloa macra
Zones 5–9Part shade