One of our all time favorite ornamental grasses graces us with its stunning display of plumes each year, starting in mid-October. Lindheimer’s Muhly (pronounced mulee) grass hails from central Texas (Edwards Plateau) south to northern Mexico, where it’s found growing on alkaline oak savannahs. Its specific epithet commemorates the Father of Texas Botany, German immigrant, Ferdinand Lindheimer (1801-1879).
We think it’s one of the most outstanding grasses for both home and commercial gardens. The 3′ tall x 5′ wide semi-evergreen clump of thin, glaucous-green foliage is topped with rigid plumes to 6′ tall x 8′ wide. Muhlenbergia lindheimeri is incredibly drought tolerant, and thrives in a wide range of soil and growing conditions, except for those that remain wet. Plant Delights offered this for a decade, but dropped it in 2013, due to poor sales. Could it be time for a comeback for a new generation of gardeners? Hardiness is Zone 6b-9b, at least.