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Native Plant Society of Texas

Purple Lovegrass

Eragrostis spectabilis

Other common name(s):

Purple Love Grass, Purple Plains Lovegrass, Tumblegrass, Petticoat Climber

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Canadian/Cimarron High Plains
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

.5
to
1.5
ft.

Spread

.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Gravelly, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red, Purple

Bloom Season

Summer

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies

Maintenance

Will grow in dry, gravelly areas where other plants won’t. Spreads by rhizomes and will reseed itself. Cut back dead foliage before new spring growth. Deer resistant. Propagation: seed, clump division.

Comments

Blooms August-October. A warm-season bunch grass, short lived perennial. Grows low to the ground in dense tufts. Fine-textured, stiff inflorescence appears like reddish-purple clouds. Eventually this inflorescence breaks off and floats around like a tumbleweed. Larval host: Zabulon Skipper.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Eragrostis spectabilis var. sparsihirsuta, Poa spectabilis

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Lovegrass seed can be sown either indoors in the late winter or directly outside. The ornamental grass seed is small, press the seed into the soil but do not cover it. Keep the Purple Love Grass seed moist until germination. 1) https://www.outsidepride.com/seed/ornamental-grass/love-grass/love-grass-purple.html#:~:text=Purple%20love%20grass%20(Eragrostis%20spectabilis)%20is%20a,in%20winter%20to%20prepare%20for%20spring%20growth 2) https://www.rpseeds.co.uk/products/eragrostis-spectabilis-purple-love-grass-seeds#:~:text=GROWING%20GUIDE,soil%20in%20a%20sunny%20position.
Clump Division Assemble the necessary tools including a sharp spade or knife, pots, potting soil, and water. Ensure all tools are clean to prevent the spread of disease to purple lovegrass. Gently tease apart the root clump into smaller sections using your hands or cut through with the spade or knife. Each section should have a good amount of roots and several shoots. Fill pots with potting soil and plant the divided sections of purple lovegrass, ensuring that the roots are well spread out and that the soil level is the same as it was when the plant was in the ground. Water the newly potted sections of purple lovegrass thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots and eliminate air pockets. Place the pots in a location where purple lovegrass will receive appropriate amounts of sunlight and maintain consistent moisture in the soil without overwatering. Keep an eye on the new purple lovegrass plants for signs of growth or stress. Adjust care as needed to ensure healthy root and shoot development. Choose a time when purple lovegrass is actively growing but not during the heat of the day to avoid excessive stress on the plant. Carefully dig around the base of purple lovegrass to lift the entire clump from the ground with minimal root disturbance. Shake off any loose soil. https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Eragrostis_spectabilis.html#:~:text=Purple%20lovegrass%20is%20typically%20propagated%20through%20division%2C,well%2Ddraining%20soil%20are%20crucial%20for%20healthy%20growth.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason