Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tender Perennial
Origin
Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Mexico, Caribbean
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Lindheimer's muhly
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Number of Varieties
2520
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Prairies, Roadsides, Warmer regions
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-108-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 3
12-5
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm120.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green, Brown
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Brown
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water frequently while growing, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune when plant is dormant, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Ladybug
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ladybug beetles
Butterflies
Allergy
-
Rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Shelter for wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
MUHLENBERGIA capillaris
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Pink Muhly Grass
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Muhly Grass
Shell Ginger
In German
hairawn muhly
Shell Ginger
In French
muhly herbe
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
muhly Grass
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Muhly Grass
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
muhly grama
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Muhly Trawa
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Muhly Grass
Crusta Ginger
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Cyperales
Zingiberales
Family
Poaceae
Zingiberaceae
Genus
Muhlenbergia
Alpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Alpinieae
Subfamily
-
Alpinioideae
Number of Species
40150
1
27800
👆🏻