foxtail muhly
Muhlenbergia andina (Nutt.) Hitchc.
Foxtail muhly grows in places where water remains available within otherwise varied western landscapes. Its underground rhizomes spread rather than forming a tightly packed bunch. Long hairs surrounding the florets give its flowering plumes a soft appearance. University of Washington Burke Herbarium: Muhlenbergia andina
Botanical name
Muhlenbergia andina is an accepted perennial grass species in Poaceae. Kew: Muhlenbergia andina
Recognizing the plant
The mostly smooth, ascending stems are about 25–85 cm tall. Flat leaf blades are commonly 4–16 cm long and only a few millimeters wide. The short blade-base membrane has a ragged edge. The contracted panicle is usually 2–15 cm long, with branches held close to its axis. Gray-green lemmas bear long basal hairs and an awn; additional silky hairs occur on the palea. The anthers are yellow; mature grains are yellow-brown. University of Washington Burke Herbarium: Muhlenbergia andina
Bloom window
Washington
In Washington, flowering is recorded from July through September. University of Washington Burke Herbarium: Muhlenbergia andina
Native range
The native range extends from British Columbia to California and east toward the Great Plains. In Washington it occurs east of the Cascades, beside shores, seeps and hot springs and in moist meadows. University of Washington Burke Herbarium: Muhlenbergia andina
Botanical sources
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.