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FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘White Cloud’ is a warm season perennial grass with striking seasonal color and texture. Plants form a dense mound of attractive needle-like olive-green blades. In late summer, foliage is topped by nebulous clouds of white spikelets. Flowering continues for almost two months into late autumn and fading plumes persist well into winter. As the season ends, foliage develops a tawny bronze patina and seed ripen to a soft beige. This handsome grass flourishes in sunny exposures with moist to dry soil, with good drainage.

HABITAT & HARDINESS:  Muhlenbergia capillaris ranges from Massachusetts to Florida, west from Kansas to Texas and into Mexico.

This species grows in dry open woods and savannas with acidic or calcareous sandy or gravelly soil.  Plants are indigenous to upland pine forests, sandy or rocky open woods, longleaf pine flatwoods, pine savannas, pine barrens, calcareous prairie openings, sandy coastal uplands, beach dunes, sandhills, roadsides and borders of marshes.

This grass is hardy from USDA Zones 5-11.

PLANT DESCRIPTION:  Muhlenbergia capillaris is a warm season bunch grass that forms a mound of stiff upright linear leaves.

Leaf blades average 18-30” length and 1/8” width.  The blades can be flat but are often involute with the edges rolled up toward the midrib.  They are somewhat rush-like.  Foliage can be semi-evergreen in warm climates but generally develops a coppery hue in fall and golden brown in winter.

In late summer or early autumn, hazy white panicles rise above the foliage.  The panicles consist of many single-flowered spikelets supported on slender hair-like pedicels.  The spikelets are ivory with ½” hair-like awns.  This warm season grass is known for its beautiful, airy white plumes and olive-green spiky foliage. Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘White Cloud’ is an attention grabber late in the growing season when other plants are starting to fade. In late summer or early autumn, airy white panicles rise above the foliage that catch the light and sway in the breeze. ‘White Cloud’ is more upright with a taller stature then pink muhly grass, averaging 2-3′ tall with delicate flowers extending another foot above the foliage. It blooms a bit later as well, so combine with pink muhly for an even longer bloom from late summer to fall. In warmer climates, flowers last into winter.

Plants average 3-4’ height with an equal spread.

CULTURAL & MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  Muhlenbergia capillaris prospers in full sun or light shade in average or dry soil.  Plants require good drainage.  They tolerate drought but become larger and more attractive if irrigated during dry spells.

Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘White Cloud’ prospers in full sun or light shade in average or dry soil. Plants require good drainage, doing well in sandy and rocky soils but they are adaptable to many different soils and growing situations. They tolerate drought but become larger and more attractive if irrigated during dry spells. Tolerates poor soils, urban conditions, temporary flooding, acid and alkaline pH, black walnut, high humidity and heat, excessive wind and moderate salinity.

Muhlenbergia capillaris is intolerant of winter wetness but responds favorably to controlled burns.  Plants are pest resistant and unpalatable to deer and other herbivores.

This species does self-sow. If seeding is an issue, deadhead before seed mature.  In garden situations, cut brown foliage to the ground in early spring to make way for new leaves.

LANDSCAPE USES:  This attractive grass is useful as an Accent, Grouping or Mass Planting for Meadows, Perennial Borders and Coastal Gardens. Muhlenbergia capillaris provides Showy Flowers, Cut Flowers, Fall Color and aids in Erosion Control.   This species is a candidate for Cottage Gardens, Water-wise Landscapes, Low Maintenance Plantings, White Gardens, Rain Gardens, Rock Gardens, Roadsides and Restoration Projects.

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS:  Try pairing Muhlenbergia capillaris with Aster oblongifolius, Helianthus divaricatus, Liatris aspera, Monarda punctata, Pycnanthemum incanum, Rudbeckia fulgida var fulgida, Schizachrium scoparium and Solidago nemoralis.

TRIVIA: Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘White Cloud’ was introduced by Superior Trees Nursery of Lee, Florida.  The genus name honors Gotthilf Muhlenberg (1753-1815), American botanist, who named over 150 plant species in Index Flora Lancastriensis.  Muhly grass provides nearly year-round cover for wildlife habitat and nesting material for birds and native bees. Seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals. Attracts butterflies. Reported as a host plant for some skipperling butterflies.