Pink clouds in the garden: discover two plants that look just like cotton candy
A plant that looks like pink candy floss/cotton candy? Well this does exist and, in fact, there are two of them. These two plants are from the family of grasses and are very well-know and popular. These plants have the botanical names Muhlenbergia capillaris (aka "pink Muhly grass") and Eragrostis spectabilis. Let's find out more about the amazing plants:
Muhlenbergia capillaris
A perennial grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris is much beloved for its feathery flowers, which give it the appearance of a pink cloud.
Apart from its beauty, Muhlenbergia capillaris blooms in autumn (when other flowers are starting to disappear). So,why not take advantage of this to plant some of this spectacular plant in spring in your garden? In the right spot, this plant will be ready to make your outdoors look amazing in autumn!
For the soil, it is best that it is not excessively acidic, is well-draining and is rich in nutrients.
Muhlenbergia capillaris can grow in partial shade, but it does best in sunny spots. They can also be cultivated in pots and/or large planters on placed on balconies.
The recommended maximum plant density (if you are planting more than one Muhlenbergia capillaris) is three young plants for every square meter of soil.
Watering and fertilizing: this plant does not require much watering (and mature plants can be left to their own devices). In pots, water when the soil has dried out. Muhlenbergia capillaris does not require fertilizers or phytosanitary (disease-preventing) treatments. The only thing to remember is to remove any dry leaves at the end of winter (leave them for on during the winter to provide protection). Removing dead, dry leaves will stimulate the growth of new ones.
Eragrostis spectabilis
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The Eragrostis spectabilis is also spectacularly beautiful. Also a member of the grass family, Eragrostis has very beautiful emerald green leaves all year round. In autumn, its sofft, feathery pink flowers bloom.
Eragrostis thrives in sunny locations with well-draining soil. Regular watering is essential during its establishment phase, but once mature, it has high drought tolerance, requiring only occasional watering during prolonged dry spells. Pruning in late winter or early spring helps rejuvenate the plant. Eragrostis is very frequently found as plant which is used to border ponds and other garden water features.
Dream landscapes in autumn
Both species of this plant are spectacular in autumn and are often cultivated in large expanses of land, like urban parks, for example (especially Muhlenbergia capillaris). For instance, there are some areas in South Korea (one of which is shown in the photo), which have become a vistors hot-spots during autumn
Wouldn't you like to have some of this "pink magic" at home?
