Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Pine Muhly
Pine muhly is a small native grass for spots where deer grass would be too big. Its stiff, upright green leaves form a tidy clump about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. From late summer into fall, narrow tan flower spikes rise above the leaves. It grows fast, needs little water and fits narrow beds, medians and small yards.
Best for: Narrow beds and medians, small yards and containers, and group plantings where a big grass would crowd the space.
At about 2 to 3 feet, it suits narrow planting strips and medians where a tall grass would block the view. It works well planted in a mass.
It has the look of deer grass and Autumn Glow at a fraction of the size. It fits small yards, patios and containers.
The stiff, upright leaves give each clump a tidy, formal look. Planted in groups, the narrow tan flower spikes make a soft mass effect from late summer into fall.
It needs soil that drains well. After the early spring cut back the clump is small until new growth comes in.
- 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.
Once rooted it needs little water. A deep soak every 1 to 2 weeks in summer keeps it looking full.
Cut it back to a few inches in early spring, before new growth. Once a year is enough.
Give it full sun and soil that drains well. It keeps a neat clump and does not seed out everywhere.
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 pine muhly get?
It usually grows about 2 feet tall and wide and can reach 3 feet. It is a fast grower.
Is pine muhly native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild on rocky slopes in Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas and northern Mexico.
How is pine muhly different from deer grass?
It looks like a small deer grass, with narrow tan flower spikes, but grows only about 2 to 3 feet. Deer grass grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.
How is it different from Autumn Glow?
Both have stiff, upright leaves and a tidy look. Autumn Glow grows about 5 feet tall. Pine muhly stays around 2 to 3 feet, so it fits smaller spaces.
When does pine muhly bloom?
Narrow tan flower spikes rise above the leaves from late summer into fall. Leave them up through fall and cut the clump back in early spring.
How much water does it need?
Once rooted it needs little water. A deep soak every 1 to 2 weeks in summer keeps it full. It needs soil that drains well.
Can I grow pine muhly in a pot?
Yes. Its small size suits patios and containers. Use a pot with good drainage.
When do I cut it back?
Cut it back to a few inches once a year in early spring, before new growth. Once a year is enough.
How cold can it take?
It is hardy to about 0°F, so Valley winters do not hurt it.
Does it spread or reseed?
It grows as a clump and does not seed out everywhere.
Do deer or wildlife bother it?
Deer tend to leave it alone. It draws birds and other wildlife to the seed.
Pine Muhly for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Pine muhly is a small native bunch grass with a stiff, upright shape. It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, grows fast and gets by on little water. This page covers size, room per plant, watering, the spring cut back and how it compares to deer grass and Autumn Glow.
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 pine muhly get?
Pine muhly usually grows about 2 feet tall and wide and can reach 3 feet. It grows fast and keeps a tidy, upright shape.
A small grass for narrow beds in Phoenix
At 2 to 3 feet, it fits narrow strips, medians and small yards where deer grass would be too big. It also works in containers.
Pine muhly vs deer grass
Pine muhly looks like a small deer grass, with narrow tan flower spikes. Deer grass grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide. Pine muhly stays around 2 to 3 feet.
How much water does pine muhly need in Arizona?
Once rooted it needs little water. A deep soak every 1 to 2 weeks in summer keeps it looking full. Plant it in soil that drains well.
When to cut back pine muhly
Cut it back to a few inches once a year in early spring, before new growth starts. New leaves fill in quickly.
Is pine muhly native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild on rocky slopes in Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas and northern Mexico. It needs little water once rooted and is hardy to about 0°F.
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.