How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Pink Mulla Mulla

It’s not always easy to find plants that can tolerate dry, hot conditions and add beauty to the garden. Pink mulla mulla checks all these boxes.

These Australian natives are used to thriving in arid conditions, so they’re right at home during dry, hot summer days. Despite their rugged nature, they maintain a delicate look thanks to feathery pink flowers. The flowers have an extended bloom time and beautify the garden throughout the summer.

Although pink mulla mulla is easy to grow, it’s not a widespread plant. I’ll cover how to select the proper environment and provide care that allows the plants to thrive.

Pink Mulla Mulla Overview

Plant Type Short-lived perennial Family Amaranthaceae Genus Ptilotus Species exaltatus	Native Area Australia Exposure Full sun Height 18-30” Watering Requirements Low	Pests & Diseases Root rot Maintenance Low Soil Type Well-draining Hardiness Zone 10-11, can be grown as an annual in zones 2-11

What Is Pink Mulla Mulla?

Pink mulla mulla is a short-lived perennial or annual plant that’s known for its large spikes of fluffy pink flowers. The plants can tolerate intense heat and drought, so they’re perfect for gardeners looking for an interesting, low-maintenance plant.

Other names for this plant include tall mulla mulla, lamb’s tail, and showy foxtail. It’s in the amaranth family, which also includes quinoa, beets, pigweed, and celosia.

Characteristics

Pink mulla mulla can grow as a short-lived perennial or annual. However, gardeners usually treat it as an annual and replant it each year.

The plants produce oblong, silvery green leaves that appear on branching stems. Each stem is topped with a large, feathery flower that resembles a fluffy paintbrush. The flowers start out silver, then develop their characteristic pink color as they age.

Although the brush-like flowers look like individuals, each flower actually contains many small flowers that combine to form the unique blooms. The blooms are extremely long-lasting and maintain their color and form for multiple weeks.

I think the flowers look like large celosia blooms, which makes sense since these plants are in the same family. However, the pink mulla mulla has thicker foliage that allows it to withstand drought better than the more common celoisa.

The flowers add beauty to gardens and containers throughout the summer thanks to the plant’s long bloom time. You can also cut the flowers to enjoy them fresh or dry them to use in floral arrangements and wreaths.

Native Area

All members of the Ptilotus genus are native to Australia, and pink mulla mulla is no exception. This plant thrives in arid areas with low humidity and doesn’t mind rocky or sandy soil.

Planting

Pink mulla mulla grows well in both in-ground gardens and containers, as long as you choose a location with full sun and well-draining soil. Rocky soil or sandy garden soil can work well, but so can rich ground.

If you’re planting in a container, choose one at least ten inches deep so the roots can spread. Since the plant dislikes soggy soil, make sure there are drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

The plants can quickly switch from a vegetative to a flowering stage, so take care to transplant seedlings before they begin to fill out their plug trays or containers.

As a heat-loving plant, this flower is sensitive to cold. Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed before planting. You can set the plants outdoors when planting summer flowers like zinnias and cosmos.

Transplanting

If you can find pink mulla mulla plants near you, transplanting is the easiest way to grow these stunning ornamentals. When you’re looking at plants in plug trays or containers, stay away from larger individuals that have outgrown their containers. It’s easy to gravitate towards these big plants, but they are more likely to be rootbound and suffer from greater transplant shock.

Instead, look for smaller specimens that haven’t outgrown their container. If the plants are too small to plant, you can wait a few weeks for them to fill out.

You can transplant when you spot at least three true leaves. Choose a location with well-draining soil and full sun, and set plants six to ten inches apart.

Dig a hole the size of the plant’s rootball, then set it into the ground. Cover the top of the rootball with native soil, but avoid covering any of the stem. These plants are super sensitive to having their necks buried, so make sure not to bury them too deeply.

Water the plants well for the first few weeks following transplanting. As they mature, their root systems will grow deeper, leading to increased drought tolerance.

Growing from Seed

If you can find pink mulla mulla seeds and don’t mind a bit of extra work, you can grow your own seedlings at home. Direct sowing in the garden and starting in seed trays indoors are both suitable options, but the latter method is more reliable.

Start by gathering your materials. You’ll need seedling trays (or shallow plastic containers like yogurt cups), a well-draining soil mix, and a bright window or grow light.

Fill the trays with the soil mix, gently tapping it on a flat surface to settle any large air pockets. Sprinkle the tiny seeds on top of the soil and leave them uncovered. Gently water the trays with a watering can, or place the containers on a solid tray to bottom water.

Set the seeds in a location that’s between 75-80°F (24-27°C) for the best germination. The seeds should sprout in five to seven days.

The seedlings grow quickly and can begin producing flower buds in as little as six weeks after sowing. Starting the seeds too early can lead to seedlings that are begging to be transplanted while the weather is too cold. Starting the seeds right around the time of your last spring frost is a safe bet.

How to Grow

Pink mulla mulla is easy to grow if you know its preferred growing environment. Providing excellent drainage, lots of sun, and warm temperatures are key to helping this plant thrive.

Light

These plants thrive in full sun. Providing them with at least eight hours of direct light allows the plants to remain healthy and produce lots of blooms. They don’t mind intense afternoon rays, even when they’re coupled with high temperatures.

Too little light is more of an issue than not enough. A lack of flowers and stunted growth are two major signs that your plant may need more light.

Water

One of the pink mulla mulla’s key attributes is its impressive drought tolerance. Once established, the plants can survive over a week between waterings.

Younger plants have small root systems, so they’ll require more frequent watering. Water seedlings multiple times a week so the top two inches of soil remain moist. You can gradually decrease the amount you water as the plants grow.

During the heat of summer, watering in-ground plants once a week is often sufficient. Plants growing in containers dry out quicker than those in the ground, so be prepared to water them two to three times per week.

Watering the base of the plant is preferred to overhead watering. You can use a watering can or hose to supply a slow, steady stream of water that sinks deep into the ground. This deep water is less susceptible to evaporation and will allow plants to remain healthy in between irrigation events.

Soil

These plants can grow well in various soil types, including clay, sand, and rocky gravel. Their only requirement is excellent drainage.

If you’re working with compacted soils, loosen the soil before planting. Insert the tines of a digging fork or the blade of a shovel into the ground, then gently pull back on the handle until the soil cracks. Repeat this process every six to ten inches.

Well-draining potting mixes work well for potted plants. Look for a mix with compost, peat moss or coco coir, and perlite.

Temperature and Humidity

This Ptilotus species thrives in warm and hot weather. The plants can withstand hot afternoons that reach near 100°F (38°C), so they’re an excellent choice for hot climates.

While heat isn’t a problem, cold temperatures can quickly stress or even kill the plants. It’s best to wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50°F (10°C) before planting seedlings outdoors. When below-freezing temperatures arrive in the fall, the plants will die.

Fertilizing

These ornamentals don’t require many nutrients, but adding a small handful of compost before planting will provide them with what they need to grow. If you don’t have access to quality compost, add a small amount of a slow-release, balanced fertilizer at planting time.

Maintenance

Pink mulla mulla plants are low-maintenance and don’t require any complicated pruning or care to thrive. Removing browning flowers with a pair of pruning shears will encourage the production of new, healthy blooms.

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate pink mulla mulla at home is to collect mature seeds. Since the plants quickly produce many flowers, you won’t have to worry about a shortage of seeds. The trick is to wait until the seeds are fully mature and able to germinate.

Each bloom is actually made up of many tiny individual flowers that resemble small feathers. The flowers contain brown seeds that you can collect and plant right away or save for future use.

Be aware that seeds collected from plants you’ve grown may experience low germination rates. Scarifying the seeds may help improve germination, but starting with professionally-grown and treated seeds is often a more reliable option.

Common Problems

Not only is this ornamental immune to high heat and drought, but it faces few problems with pests and diseases! Insects typically leave it alone, and pathogens rarely cause serious issues. Slugs, snails, and armyworms may munch on young seedlings, but they’re rarely a problem on plants.

Root rot is the main issue to look out for. Wet conditions spur the development of multiple pathogens that cause roots to become soft and discolored. Eventually, plants may wilt or die as they struggle to take in water and nutrients.

Fortunately, this can be avoided by planting pink mulla mulla in well-draining soil. The soil texture doesn’t matter, but you should avoid compacted and wet areas. Root rot is difficult to treat once it occurs, so prevention is your best strategy.

Common Varieties

Plant breeders have taken a newfound interest in these plants and created shorter and more reliable varieties that work well in gardens. Here are a few cultivars to look for:

• ‘Joey’ is a compact variety that remains under 18 inches tall and produces dense blooms. It’s also known for seeds with high germination rates.
• ‘Matilda’ grows up to 28 inches tall and thrives in a variety of climates. The longer stems make this the preferred variety for cut flowers.