Purple lovegrass Interesting Notes

You’ll fall for love grass when panicles of reddish purple flowers rise above the foliage in late summer. Eragrostis spectabilis is a warm season bunch grass with narrow leaves arranged somewhat randomly in 10” clumps. Attractive throughout the growing season, the light green foliage turns stunning bronze-red in autumn. This grass needs full sun and will thrive in poor, sandy soil or any soil with good drainage. It prefers even moisture but can be quite drought tolerant. Love grass will slowly spread by rhizomes to a width of about 3’ and may self seed. Use it alone in mass plantings or intermingle the 24” inflorescences with Rudbeckia fulgida, Ruellia humilis, and Eurybia divaricata. – Mt. Cuba Center

From the Greek eros (love) and agrostis (grass). (Darke, Ornamental Grasses, p. 191)

Eragrostis spectabilis Growing and Maintenance Tips

Tolerates infertile, sandy and poor soils in full sun and is drought tolerant. Spreads slowly via rhizomes and seed. Propagate by seed or division of clumps every few years. Cut foliage to the ground in early spring before new growth occurs. Use in perennial borders, mass plantings, as a specimen or groundcover in open woodland areas.