Waitt, Damon E.
Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud.
Purple lovegrass, Purple love grass, Purple plains lovegrass, Tumblegrass, Petticoat climber
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Purple plains lovegrass grows low to the ground in dense tufts, 8-18 in. tall. In late summer the fine-textured, stiff
inflorescence appears like reddish-purple clouds hovering at ground level. Eventually this
inflorescence breaks off and floats around like a tumbleweed. This is a perennial.
Purple plains lovegrass is a member of the family Poaceae. Grasses are herbs with cylindrical, jointed flowering stems (culms), hollow between the joints, leaves often mostly basal and tiny flowers aggregated into highly modified clusters.
Image Gallery:
1 photo(s) available
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Purple
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AL , AZ , AR , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: ON Native Distribution: ME to MN, s. to FL & AZ; also Mex.
Native Habitat: Sandy or disturbed sites; plains; open woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(I) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Sandy soils. Well drained open fields. Grows best on moist, sandy soil in full sun.
Conditions Comments: When in bloom, the short stalks create a nice hazy purple-red coloration especially when grown in a mass. Like most grasses. This plant grows rhizomously and can spread and it will reseed if seeds allowed to ripen.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High
Last Update: 2011-04-11
