Purple Lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Eragrostis geyeri
- Phonetic Spelling
- er-uh-GROS-tis speck-TAB-ih-liss
- Description
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Purple love grass is a small, perennial, well-behaved ornamental grass in the Poaceae (grass family). This warm-season grass is native to central and eastern North America and is found naturally in sandy fields, along roadsides, and in woodlands. It spreads slowly by rhizomes.
Plant it in open areas well-drained slightly dry soil in the full sun. It is tolerant of hot dry conditions. Its airy pink seed heads float gracefully above the dense clumping foliage.
Plant in small groups or mass plan in a border, meadow, or native plant garden. It can be mowed a few times a year if it is being used as a lawn alternative that is exposed to light foot traffic. It will not handle heavy foot traffic. In the winter it will go dormant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, leaf spot, and spittlebugs are occasional pest problems.
- 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:
- spectabilis
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S. Canada to NE. Mexico
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 2 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Caryopsis dark brown .8 mm long as the seeds mature they dry and fall off the plant and are blown around by the wind. Fruits are available September-November and are pink and purple in color.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Messy, loose appearance inflorescence is a panicle. Appears in late summer to fall (August-October)then appears as reddish-purple clouds and fades to soft brown.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Dull green hairy on both sides flat, up to 10" long 3/8" wide
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Foot Traffic
- Heat
- Pollution
- Poor Soil
- Salt
