Muhlenbergia porteri
Bush muhly
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Muhlenbergia porteri (Bush muhly) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by wiry stems with knot-like nodes and open inflorescence.
Bush muhly is a California native perennial found in the southern California desert mountains, Peninsular Ranges, Sierra Nevada eastern edge, and Mojave Desert in rocky habitats among boulders and shrubs at elevations of 610 to 1,680 meters. Flowering from June to October, this grass produces delicate, thread-like purple to yellow flower clusters in open, spreading panicles 4 to 15 centimeters long. Growing with wiry stems 25 to 80 centimeters tall that have distinctive knot-like lower nodes, it forms dense, intricate clumps. Its narrow leaves are 2 to 8 centimeters long and 1 to 2 millimeters wide, ranging from flat to slightly folded with truncate, toothed ligules. The plant's delicate spikelets feature hairy lemmas with slender awns 2 to 10 millimeters long, giving the grass a fine, feathery appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; wiry stems with knot-like nodes and open inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Among boulders or shrubs, rocky slopes, cliffs
Elevation: 610-1680 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, San Diego, Riverside, Alameda
Outside California: to Colorado, western Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Muhlenbergia porteri blooms Jun-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Cenchrus: Cenchrus has spiny burs enclosing seed clusters; Muhlenbergia has open panicles without spines.; vs Nassella: Nassella has prominent bent awns; Muhlenbergia awns are straight or absent.; vs Festuca: Festuca has multiple-flowered spikelets; Muhlenbergia typically has single-flowered spikelets in open panicles.; vs Carex: Carex (sedges) has triangular stems and separate male/female flowers; Muhlenbergia has round stems.; vs Juncus: Juncus (rushes) has tiny brown chaffy flowers in clusters; Muhlenbergia has typical grass spikelets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Muhlenbergia porteri native to California?
Yes. Muhlenbergia porteri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Muhlenbergia porteri bloom?
Muhlenbergia porteri blooms Jun-Oct.
Where in California does Muhlenbergia porteri grow?
Muhlenbergia porteri occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, San Diego, Riverside, Alameda, at elevations of 610-1680 m.
What plant family does Muhlenbergia porteri belong to?
Muhlenbergia porteri is in the Poaceae family, genus Muhlenbergia.
What habitat does Muhlenbergia porteri grow in?
Muhlenbergia porteri grows in Among boulders or shrubs, rocky slopes, cliffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.