Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Bull Grass
Bull grass is a native bunch grass with long blue-green leaves that arch into a fountain shape about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. It is one of the first muhlies to flower, sending up loose purple flower spikes in summer that last for weeks and dry to tan. It is one of the most drought tolerant muhlies and handles full sun and reflected heat. Use it as an accent in a rock garden, on a slope or in a group.
Best for: Accent clumps in rock gardens, slopes and banks, hot spots with reflected heat, and groups in low-water beds.
The long, arching blue-green leaves make a soft fountain shape among rocks and desert plants. Its leaves are wider than most other muhlies.
It is one of the first muhlies to bloom, with loose purple flower spikes from summer into fall. The spikes last for weeks and dry to tan by winter.
It is used on slopes for erosion control and takes full sun and reflected heat. It also handles some shade and almost any soil.
In heavy shade it loses its shape and flowers less, so give it sun most of the day. The dormant leaves need a hard cut in spring.
- Plant to plant3-4 ft apart, center to center
- Mass planting3-4 ft apart, center to center
Water new plants regularly while they get rooted. New plants need extra water through their first year or two.
It is very drought tolerant once rooted. A few extra deep soaks in the warm season keep it looking its best.
Cut it back hard in early spring, down to a few inches, to clear dormant leaves and old spikes. Every couple of years also works.
Full sun gives the best shape and flowering. It also takes part shade.
Turns tan in winter and greens up again in spring.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does bull grass get?
It usually grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. The flower spikes rise above the leaves. It grows at a fairly fast pace.
When does bull grass bloom?
It is one of the first muhlies to flower. Loose purple flower spikes show up in summer and carry on into fall. They last for weeks and dry to tan in winter.
Is bull grass native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild on rocky slopes and in oak woodlands from Arizona to west Texas and into Mexico.
How much water does bull grass need?
It is one of the most drought tolerant muhlies. Once rooted it needs little water, and extra waterings in the warm season keep it looking good.
Can it take full sun and reflected heat?
Yes. It handles full sun and reflected heat. It also grows in part shade, but full sun most of the day gives the best shape and flowers.
When and how do I cut it back?
Cut it back hard in early spring to clear the dormant leaves and old spikes, down to a few inches. It grows back fast after a cutback. Doing it every couple of years also works.
What soil does it need?
It grows in almost any soil, from sand to clay, so there is no need to amend the planting hole.
Is it good for slopes?
Yes. It is used for erosion control on slopes and banks.
How cold can bull grass take?
It is hardy to 0°F or lower, so Valley winters do not hurt it.
Does it attract birds or butterflies?
Birds eat the seed and use the leaves for nests. It also feeds the caterpillars of some butterflies.
How is bull grass different from other muhlies?
Bull grass has wider blue-green leaves and purple spikes that come earlier than most muhlies. Deer grass is bigger, 3 to 5 feet, with tan spikes in fall. Pink muhly has airy pink plumes in fall.
Bull Grass for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Bull grass 'El Toro' is a selection of a native muhly with wide blue-green leaves and purple flower spikes that show up earlier than most muhlies. It grows fast to about 2 to 3 feet and takes heat and drought. This page covers size, bloom, watering, the spring cut back and how it compares to other muhlies.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does bull grass get?
Bull grass usually grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, with flower spikes rising above the leaves. It grows at a fairly fast pace.
When does bull grass bloom in Arizona?
It is one of the first muhlies to flower, with loose purple spikes from summer into fall. The spikes last for weeks and dry to tan in winter.
How much water does bull grass need?
It is one of the most drought tolerant muhlies. Once rooted it needs little water. Extra waterings in the warm season keep it looking its best.
When to cut back bull grass
Cut it back hard in early spring to remove the dormant leaves and old flower spikes. It grows back quickly after a cutback. Every couple of years also works.
Bull grass for slopes and hot spots
It is used for erosion control on slopes and banks. It handles full sun, reflected heat and almost any soil.
Bull grass vs deer grass
Bull grass is smaller, about 2 to 3 feet, with wider blue-green leaves and purple spikes in summer. Deer grass grows 3 to 5 feet with tan spikes in fall.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.