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Netanya Sadoff
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purple lovegrass is hard to ignore at the peak of its showy blooming, in mid- to late summer. While in other seasons it supports and blends with surrounding grasses and forbs, in the hottest summer weeks its soft, pink to purple inflorescence is dramatic. When the sun hits the clouds of puffy seed heads (florets) at the right angle, they seem to sparkle.
Found in even the poorest of soils, purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) thrives in sunny, sandy and gravelly sites— even along roadsides that receive winter road salt. It also grows under black walnut trees, where other plants fail, and it can effectively replace turfgrass in hot, sandy locations.
A host plant for the grass moth and the Hobomok and Zabulon skipper butterflies, purple lovegrass has no serious insect or disease problems. It provides cover, forage and nesting material for a wide range of birds and small mammals, although it is deer- and rabbit-resistant.
In its natural habitat along sandy sites throughout the eastern United States, purple lovegrass often colonizes along hilly and sand prairies, upland savannas, sandy paths and meadows.
Other grasses tend to dominate in more moist, fertile soils and habitats. Most of the plant’s growth occurs during the warmest summer days. In its natural setting, purple lovegrass spreads via underground rhizomes, and it self-seeds. Its basal foliage is green, while its warm-season, colorful florets develop above its early-season growth.
This native grass is a good choice for meadow gardens, rock gardens, slopes and sites requiring erosion control. While it prefers moist, well-draining soils, it tolerates drought once established. Best not planted where water puddles, it does work well in beach gardens or well-draining containers.
Good companions include spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida), which bloom around the same
time; prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya), which blooms earlier and provides good structure; and various American asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), which bloom later and blend with the bronzing seed heads of purple lovegrass.
The unique purple color of this grass makes it a great addition to many gardens and landscapes.
Purple lovegrass starts easily from seed sown on its optimal moist, sandy soil. The seeds are small and need light to germinate, so gently pressing them into the soil yields the best results. Seeds must be kept moist until germination. They can be started indoors in early spring for transplanting or sown directly in the garden when temperatures are reliably warmer. Purple lovegrass also grows well from divisions of existing plants.
With the right growing conditions, purple lovegrass can add a dramatic swath of color to the mid- to late-summer garden. It can naturalize a meadow, decorate a border area or serve as an ornamental grass in a more structured garden or a potted arrangement. It’s also a good structural element in cut and dried arrangements.
Purple lovegrass is one of those plants that seems unassuming, until you see it at its peak of dramatic display. And then, it cannot be ignored.
This article originally appeared in the Jul/Aug 2021 edition of Northern Gardener® Magazine.
Beth Stetenfeld is an organic gardener, native-plant enthusiast and garden blogger and writer. She’s also a master naturalist volunteer and instructor.
The post Plant Profile: Purple Lovegrass appeared first on Northern Gardener.
Description and Ecology
Found in even the poorest of soils, purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) thrives in sunny, sandy and gravelly sites— even along roadsides that receive winter road salt. It also grows under black walnut trees, where other plants fail, and it can effectively replace turfgrass in hot, sandy locations.
A host plant for the grass moth and the Hobomok and Zabulon skipper butterflies, purple lovegrass has no serious insect or disease problems. It provides cover, forage and nesting material for a wide range of birds and small mammals, although it is deer- and rabbit-resistant.
In its natural habitat along sandy sites throughout the eastern United States, purple lovegrass often colonizes along hilly and sand prairies, upland savannas, sandy paths and meadows.
Other grasses tend to dominate in more moist, fertile soils and habitats. Most of the plant’s growth occurs during the warmest summer days. In its natural setting, purple lovegrass spreads via underground rhizomes, and it self-seeds. Its basal foliage is green, while its warm-season, colorful florets develop above its early-season growth.
This native grass is a good choice for meadow gardens, rock gardens, slopes and sites requiring erosion control. While it prefers moist, well-draining soils, it tolerates drought once established. Best not planted where water puddles, it does work well in beach gardens or well-draining containers.
Good companions include spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida), which bloom around the same
time; prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya), which blooms earlier and provides good structure; and various American asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), which bloom later and blend with the bronzing seed heads of purple lovegrass.
The unique purple color of this grass makes it a great addition to many gardens and landscapes.
Grow it in the garden
Purple lovegrass starts easily from seed sown on its optimal moist, sandy soil. The seeds are small and need light to germinate, so gently pressing them into the soil yields the best results. Seeds must be kept moist until germination. They can be started indoors in early spring for transplanting or sown directly in the garden when temperatures are reliably warmer. Purple lovegrass also grows well from divisions of existing plants.
With the right growing conditions, purple lovegrass can add a dramatic swath of color to the mid- to late-summer garden. It can naturalize a meadow, decorate a border area or serve as an ornamental grass in a more structured garden or a potted arrangement. It’s also a good structural element in cut and dried arrangements.
Purple lovegrass is one of those plants that seems unassuming, until you see it at its peak of dramatic display. And then, it cannot be ignored.
Purple Lovegrass: At a Glance
Hardiness: USDA Zone 4
Native Habitat: Native to sandy soils from Maine to the Dakotas; south to Florida, Texas and Arizona. Often found in dune grasslands, prairies, barrens and open woodlands. Blooms in the hottest weeks of the summer—generally late July through mid-August.
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall; 1 to 3 feet wide
Site: Thrives in full to partial sun, in moist, sandy soils
Propagation: Easy to propagate by division or by tamping seeds directly onto soil surface; needs light to germinate. Sow indoors in early spring and transplant, or sow directly outside
Cultivars and Other Species: Eragrostis spectabilis and related species E. frankii, E. hypnoides, E. pectinacea and E. trichodes are members of the grass family (Poaceae).
This article originally appeared in the Jul/Aug 2021 edition of Northern Gardener® Magazine.
Beth Stetenfeld is an organic gardener, native-plant enthusiast and garden blogger and writer. She’s also a master naturalist volunteer and instructor.
The post Plant Profile: Purple Lovegrass appeared first on Northern Gardener.