Muhlenbergia dubia
Muhlenbergia dubia at the UC Davis Arboretum. Photo: SK Reid.
Summary
UC Davis is located in Davis, California, this site has a silty clay loam soil and plants are irrigated with potable water. More information about the field sites is located in the Nuts & Bolts section.
This gray-green clumping grass is native to the southwestern U.S. and into northern Mexico. It strongly resembles the California native deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) but is about half the size. There were no significant differences in growth or appearance between the irrigation treatments, making this a versatile plant for the landscape. In our trial it was irresistible to rabbits during the first year until we successfully excluded them from the field.
Plants were attractive year-round, and we recommend shearing down quite low every couple of years in late February or early March, as soon as the first signs of new growth can be seen. This will ensure a tidy appearance without sacrificing flowering. This species performed very well in all the UC Master Gardener demonstration gardens where it was grown.
Basic Info
| Submitted by: | UC Davis Arboretum |
| Site(s): | UC Davis |
| Trial Exposure: | Sun |
| Year evaluated: | 2009 |
Height & Width after 2 years: | 2.5' x 4.8' |
Reported Height & Width at maturity: | 2-3' x 2-3' |
| WUCOLS plant type: | G A |
| Water Needs & WUCOLS Region: | Low - Region 2 |
Mean Overall Appearance rating: (1-5 Scale, 5 is highest) | 4.3 |
Flowering Months: | July-September |