Spiked Muhly
Muhlenbergia glomerata
Last reviewed: September 2026
Spiked Muhly is a clump forming grass that grows well in full sun with low water needs, sending up narrow flower spikes from August through October.
Toxicity unknown
Spiked Muhly (Muhlenbergia glomerata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Spiked Muhly as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
24"–48" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Aug, Sep, Oct
Native to
CO, CT, IA, ID and 27 more states
Pollinators
bees
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 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Spiked Muhly.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
Spiked muhly is a native bunch grass that forms neat, upright clumps with fine-textured foliage. It produces attractive seed heads in late summer and fall that add movement and texture to the landscape.
Growing Spiked Muhly
Grow Spiked Muhly in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
How to care for Spiked Muhly, by region
How to care for Spiked Muhly where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.
Care guidance last updated: October 2026
Acadian Plains and Hills (includes Bangor)
Year-round
Year-round care for spiked muhly around Bangor: partial shade to full sun, moist to wet soil.
- Spiked muhly is described as growing on moist to wet, open ground.
- It occurs in partial shade to full sun.
- It is found on calcareous sites with a circumneutral pH.
- Stems reach about 10 to 47 inches tall.
- The Wildflower Center lists a height of up to about 4 feet and part shade as a light condition.
The upright, fine-textured clump suits a rain garden or damp border edge, where a repeated grass looks deliberate.
Sources: USDA Forest Service FEIS: Muhlenbergia glomerata, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Muhlenbergia glomerata
Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains (includes Milwaukee, WI)
Year-round
Year-round care for spiked muhly around Milwaukee, WI: partial shade to full sun, moist to wet soil.
- Spiked muhly is described as growing on moist to wet, open ground.
- It occurs in partial shade to full sun.
- It is found on calcareous sites with a circumneutral pH.
- Stems reach about 10 to 47 inches tall.
- The Wildflower Center lists a height of up to about 4 feet and part shade as a light condition.
The upright, fine-textured clump suits a rain garden or damp border edge, where a repeated grass looks deliberate.
Sources: USDA Forest Service FEIS: Muhlenbergia glomerata, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Muhlenbergia glomerata
In an HOA neighborhood
Spiked Muhly is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
- May look sparse in winter dormancy
Wildlife value
This grass provides nectar for bees during its late-season bloom period. The seeds also support various songbirds through fall and winter.
Common questions
- How much water does Spiked Muhly need?
- Once it is established, Spiked Muhly gets by on low water and handles dry to lightly moist soil without extra irrigation.
- When does Spiked Muhly bloom?
- It sends up slender, spike-like flower clusters from August into October.
- What pollinators visit Spiked Muhly?
- Bees are commonly seen working the small flowers of Spiked Muhly during its late summer bloom period.
- How much sun does Spiked Muhly need to grow well?
- Spiked Muhly performs best in full sun, where its upright clumping form and flower spikes develop fully.
- Is Spiked Muhly toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Spiked Muhly as toxic to livestock.
- Is Spiked Muhly HOA-friendly?
- Spiked Muhly is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Spiked Muhly? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.