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Annual Muhly

Muhlenbergia minutissima

Last reviewed: August 2026

Annual Muhly (Muhlenbergia minutissima)
Photo: Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

2"–8" H × 1"–4" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 10 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 432 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested MountainsSouthern California MountainsCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeNorth American DesertsSouthern RockiesArizona/New Mexico MountainsChihuahuan DesertsSouthwestern TablelandsMadrean Archipelago

Annual muhly is a tiny native grass that forms small, delicate tufts in summer. This diminutive annual produces fine-textured foliage and wispy seed heads during the growing season before completing its life cycle.

In an HOA neighborhood

Annual Muhly takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Extremely small size makes it nearly invisible in landscape
  • Annual lifecycle creates gaps when plants die
  • Can appear weedy or incomplete in formal settings

Wildlife value

As a native grass, it provides seeds for small birds and habitat for beneficial insects. The fine structure offers nesting material and shelter for tiny wildlife.

Common questions

How much sun does Annual Muhly need?
Annual Muhly grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Annual Muhly bloom?
Annual Muhly blooms in July, August, and September.
Where is Annual Muhly native?
Annual Muhly (Muhlenbergia minutissima) is native to AZ, CA, CO, ID and 10 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Annual Muhly HOA-friendly?
Annual Muhly takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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