Bamboo Muhly
(Muhlenbergia dumosa)
Bamboo Muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa)
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KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS
CC BY-SA 4.0
Image By:
KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS
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Copyright:
CC BY-SA 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 | Uploader: KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons |























Estimated Native Range
Summary
Muhlenbergia dumosa, commonly known as Bamboo Muhly, is a deciduous perennial grass native to the semi-arid regions, including open woodlands and rocky slopes in Sonora and Chihuahua of Western Mexico. It typically grows to a height of 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 meters) and a width of 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters), featuring a bamboo-like appearance with its airy, fine-textured foliage and upright, arching stems. The plant produces feathery, light green inflorescences in late summer to fall, which add a delicate, wispy aesthetic to the garden landscape.
Bamboo Muhly is valued for its soft, billowy form and movement it brings to the garden, resembling bamboo but without the invasive tendencies. It is used in ornamental gardens for its texture and as a privacy screen or informal hedge due to its dense growth habit. This grass is adaptable to a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage, and it tolerates drought once established, though it prefers regular watering. It thrives in full sun to part shade and is relatively low-maintenance, requiring only occasional trimming to keep it looking tidy. While generally pest-free, it can be susceptible to spider mites during hot, dry conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Bamboo Muhly is valued for its soft, billowy form and movement it brings to the garden, resembling bamboo but without the invasive tendencies. It is used in ornamental gardens for its texture and as a privacy screen or informal hedge due to its dense growth habit. This grass is adaptable to a range of soil types, provided they have good drainage, and it tolerates drought once established, though it prefers regular watering. It thrives in full sun to part shade and is relatively low-maintenance, requiring only occasional trimming to keep it looking tidy. While generally pest-free, it can be susceptible to spider mites during hot, dry conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 4-6 feet
- Width: 3-5 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Fall, Winter
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bird Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Semi-arid regions, open woodlands, and rocky slopes in Sonora and Chihuahua of Western Mexico
Other Names
Common Names:
Scientific Names: Muhlenbergia dumosa , Muhlenbergia dumosa var. minor
GBIF Accepted Name: Muhlenbergia dumosa Scribn. ex Vasey