The late-summer seed heads of this petite, warm-season perennial grass float in a pinkish-purple haze above erect to widely spreading foliage that has an attractively disheveled appearance. With a maximum height of about 2 feet, purple love grass is an attractive lawn alternative for areas with light foot traffic. In the wild, it's found in open areas with slightly dry, well-drained sandy or gravelly soils in full sun, so don't shy away from trying this in your most inhospitable spaces. Likewise, it should be fine in clay or loamy soils with at least six hours of direct sun as long as the soils aren't overly rich. Avoid moist, fertile sites where the grass will not be able to hold its own against taller grasses and forbs. It spreads slowly by rhizomes, and the inflorescence distributes seeds by breaking off from the plant and tumbling away. If you happen to catch one or two of these tumbleweeds, use them in a dried-flower arrangement. Appropriately, this plant is also known as tumblegrass, purple plains lovegrass, and petticoat climber (yes, it would get caught on women's petticoats).

Purple love grass is tolerant of many conditions, including pollution, salt, drought, and poor soils, all of which affect roadsides and hellstrips. A large planting of this bunchgrass is a simple solution to these rugged conditions, and neighbors will thank you for the breathtaking display of purple clouds hovering over the ground. Just make sure to water it weekly until it's established. The grass also withstands deer and proximity to black walnut trees.

Purple love grass is native to central and eastern North America. The genus name comes from the Greek words eros, meaning "love," and agrostis, meaning "grass." Spectabilis translates to "spectacular or showy."

Native habitats include sandy fields, roadsides, sandy plains, and woodlands. Plant in small groups in borders, meadows, or native plant gardens. Mix with native flowering plants, such as black-eyed Susan, blazing star, butterfly milkweed, and purple coneflower. The root system is excellent for combatting erosion, especially on roadside slopes. If desired, prune in late winter, before new, green growth emerges.

Plant Characteristics:

Grows 10-24" tall and wide.

Prefers full sun (6+ hours).

Grows in slightly dry to moist, well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soils. Thrives on poor, infertile soils. Tolerates drought and salt.

Inflorescence of purplish flowers blooms July-September and is about 15" tall and 12" across. It is globoid in overall shape and consists of an airy panicle of spikelets with widely spreading branches.

Green, flat, hairy leaves are up to 10" long and 3/8" wide. Fall color is brown/bronze, red, and burgundy.

Root system is deep, fibrous, and rhizomatous.

Wildlife Value:

Host plant for larvae of zabulon skipper. A leafhopper (Flexamia areolata) sucks juices from the foliage. Song birds and small mammals eat the seeds. Bees are the primary pollinators, but butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds also pollinate. It provides nesting cover for ground birds.

Resources:

Epic Gardening

https://www.epicgardening.com/eragrostis-spectabilis/

Go Botany!

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/eragrostis/spectabilis/

Illinois Wildflowers

https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/pp_lovegrass.htm

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ersp

Missouri Botanical Garden

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d593

North Carolina Extension