Boer Lovegrass Eragrostis curvula
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- er-uh-GROS-tis kur-vew-la
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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This ornamental grass is native to Africa and is densely tufted and has delicate features. It was originally brought to the US for erosion control and animal forage. This plant is definitely cold tolerant, however, in warmer climates it is a vigorous grower and self-seeder that easily jumps boundaries and has an extensive root system. It is listed as invasive in VA, GA, and SC.
There are several variants of this grass so they will have some differences in appearance. Generally, the grass has weeping leaves up to 2 feet long and very narrow. The margins may be rolled inward. The inflorescence is a panicle with spikelets up the stem, each containing up to 15 flowers. Each panicle can produce 1000 seeds. It has now spread over much of the eastern USA as far north as NY and west to CA. The thick roots can penetrate several feet deep and wide. It prefers lighter soils with low fertility and full sun to part shade.
Please plant less aggressive ornamental grass. See suggestions to the left.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Eragrostis
- Species:
- curvula
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Africa
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Dense
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
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Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Arching, open lavender-gray panicles in mid to late summer. Each pannicle is 10-16 inches long with has spikelets along the stems that are 3-6 inches long with up to 15 flowers in each. Flowers June- Aug.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Linear
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves green in summer; often yellow to bronze in winter. They are up to 2 feet long and very narrow with some long hairs at the sheath base. Margins roll inward
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are erect, densely tufted, and unbranched
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Erosion
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
