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When we gardeners think of grass, what probably comes to mind is a well-manicured lawn, one that often requires considerable mowing, water, pesticides and other upkeep. However, turf is not the topic of today's article. Rather, let us explore two attractive, low-maintenance natives in the Poaceae family: Muhly Grass and Fakahatchee Grass.
You may have seen the most popular species of Muhly Grass, Muhlen-bergia capillaris, along roadways and in various communities. Growing to a height and spread of three feet, with narrow, delicate-looking blades and pinkish-purple flower stalks reaching to five feet, the plant is quite drought tolerant once established. Being a warm-season grass, growth begins in summer, with blossoms forming in early autumn and lasting eight weeks or more.
A tip: Cutting plants back in late winter or early spring will encourage new growth.
Grouping several plants together lends an expressive touch to the landscape. In my landscape, for example, a number encircle mid-size trees at both the front and back of my property. There is nothing quite as stunning as experiencing the beauty of their wispy pink flower clusters dancing in the slightest of breezes on a pleasant autumn day. A lovely sight to behold!
Seed heads form in the aftermath of blooming. If you wish to try your hand at seed propagation, gather them in winter, sow in flats and transfer to the garden once new plants have rooted. Or, alternatively, sow seeds directly into the garden in spring, making certain to prepare the soil first. In each case, avoid planting the seeds deep; rather, lightly press seeds into the soil.
To avoid overcrowding and keep plants healthy, divide clumps every few years, or sooner if needed. You can dig some up and relocate them on your property, or consider giving some away so others can also enjoy the many benefits of M. capillaris.
There are other Muhlenbergia species you may wish to consider. For example, a cultivar of M. capillaris designated “White Cloud” boasts soft, white plumes. Besides plume color, the cultivar can be differentiated from its parent by its upright appearance and bloom schedule, with the white blooms lasting well beyond those of the pink.
Tripsacum dactyloides, also known as Fakahatchee Grass or Eastern Gamagrass, grows upright to a height and spread of four to six feet. Its blooms may be less conspicuous than those of Muhly Grass, but they are no less eye-catching, growing on spikes in colors of white, pink, yellow or rust.
Fakahatchee Grass can tolerate occasional "wet feet" and even periods of flooding, although the ideal situation would be well-draining moist soil. Being a cold-season grass, flower production occurs spring through summer, or longer.
Like Muhly, the grass is clump-forming and should be divided every few years.
If you are short on space, Dwarf Fakahatchee, or T. floridanum, may be just the plant for you. Boasting slightly thinner leaves than T. dactyloides, and a compact appearance, the dwarf version grows to a height of three feet.
Muhly and Fakahatchee grasses provide shelter for wildlife and the seeds they produce are enjoyed by small birds. T. dactyloides also serves as a larval host plant for the Byssus Skipper butterfly.
If you are looking to incorporate added texture and variety to your landscape, consider the value that native grasses offer. Their low-maintenance needs and benefit to wildlife easily make them welcome additions to any garden.
Until next time ... Happy Gardening!
Janetta Fox is a Lee County Master Gardener volunteer and member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral.
Sources:
Fakahatchee grass. (n.d.). UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Retrieved from https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/fakahatchee.html
Muhly grass. (n.d.). UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Retrieved from https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/muhly-grass.html