Mountain States Wholesale Nursery sends out a monthly newsletter. They’ve given us permission to share their articles and featured plants here. Enjoy some of their Thanksgiving selections!
Important! Muhlenbergia species make for good alternatives to the very invasive Fountain Grass!
Muhlenbergia emersleyi ‘El Toro’
Bull grass forms thick colonies in oak woodlands from Arizona to Texas. This clone was collected in southeastern Arizona, and was selected for its exceptionally showy flower spikes. This dense grass has a slightly coarse texture, with long blue-green leaves. It tops out at about two feet tall and wide, with airy rosy flower spikes rising above the foliage in the early fall months. The light pink flowers quickly turn to tan and persist for many months, providing winter interest. A vigorous spring pruning will remove any dormant foliage and spent flower spikes. Bull Grass has proven to be very adaptable, thriving in the hot, dry deserts of Phoenix, and looking glorious in more humid climates such as San Antonio and Austin.
Learn more about Muhlenbergia emersleyi ‘El Toro’ at MSWN
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri ‘Autumn Glow’
This Texas native grass has a long and successful history as a durable landscape staple. It creates a strong vertical presence, forming a clump of foliage to five feet tall and four feet wide. During the fall months, its tall spikes of golden-tan flowers glow when backlit by the sun. Autumn Glow® is extremely adaptable, tolerating full sun, reflected heat, and some shade. It provides a lovely backdrop for smaller grasses with contrasting flower colors such as Muhlenbergia capillaris Regal Mist® and Muhlenbergia reverchonii Undaunted® (Plant Select). It will benefit from a hard pruning in the late winter to remove dormant foliage and spent flower spikes.
Learn more about Muhlenbergia lindheimeri ‘Autumn Glow’ at MSWN
Teucrium chamaedrys ‘Prostratum’
Prostrate Germander is a dense evergreen perennial native to the Mediterranean, and has proven its adaptability to the desert Southwest, both in low and high deserts. Small, leathery, deep green leaves are accented in the spring and summer with short spikes of lavender flowers which attract pollinators. This compact plant grows to six to eight inches tall by three to four feet wide, and requires little to no pruning or maintenance. Periodic removal of spent flower spikes will encourage the formation of new blossoms. Prostrate Germander is a durable, long-lived groundcover with many applications.