Grass · Sonoran native
Bamboo muhly
Muhlenbergia dumosa · Poaceae
Also called: Bamboo muhly grass
Bamboo muhly (Muhlenbergia dumosa) is a low-water grass native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 4-6 ft H x 4-6 ft W in full sun to partial shade, with a fast growth rate.
Bamboo muhly at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (appreciates afternoon shade and reflected-heat protection in hottest sites)
- Mature size
- 4-6 ft H x 4-6 ft W
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Bloom
- Inconspicuous; pale green to tan delicate flower panicles, Spring (and intermittently); flowers are subtle
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 15-20 F; damaged by hard freezes but recovers; USDA zones 8-10
- Soil
- Well-drained soils; adaptable to native desert soils, sandy or rocky. Avoid soggy conditions.
- Native range
- Native to southern Arizona (Sonoran Desert mountain canyons and rocky slopes) and northwestern Mexico (Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua).
- Best used as
- Fine-textured screen or informal hedge, Soft airy accent resembling bamboo, Background and filler in mixed plantings, Containers and patio plantings, Movement and texture in the landscape
- Wildlife
- Provides cover and nesting habitat for birds; fine foliage offers shelter for small wildlife and beneficial insects.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; not known to be poisonous to humans or pets.
How to grow Bamboo muhly in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought tolerant once established but looks fullest and greenest with regular irrigation. In Tucson, water deeply about every 5-7 days in summer; tolerates less but foliage thins. Reduce in winter.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Low needs; little to no fertilizer required. A light spring feeding of balanced fertilizer can boost lush, fast growth if a fuller look is wanted.
Pruning & care
Generally needs little pruning; thin out and remove dead, frost-damaged, or old canes in late winter (Feb-March). Avoid cutting entirely to the ground - it does not regrow as vigorously from a hard cutback as clumping muhlys; selectively groom instead.
Notes
Distinctive Sonoran Desert native with thin, arching, bamboo-like stems and feathery, lacy foliage that moves beautifully in the breeze. One of the few muhlys with a woody-looking, cane-like habit. More frost-sensitive than the clumping muhlenbergias; protect from hard freezes in colder microclimates. Excellent soft-textured contrast plant.
Sources: AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Tohono Chul references