Eragrostis spectabilis
“Purple Love Grass”

The flowers of this grass float like an airy purple haze over the light green foliage, creating a very soft fine texture in the garden. The name Eragrostis comes from the Greek “Eros”, signifying the God of love and “agrostis” meaning grass. It has been called “lovegrass” since the Middle Ages. The story goes that it was named that because of the tendency of its flower panicles to catch in ladies’ long dresses and petticoats as they walked through pastures. Once caught, the panicles would slowly creep upward as they walk, tickling their legs. Blooming Summer-Fall, the purple frothiness of the flowers look their best planted in-mass next to blue foliaged plants or yellow flowered plants for contrast. Great for a natural look, or wildlife garden. Eragrostis provides nesting cover for ground birds and attracts butterflies. The foliage turns a pretty red-bronze in Fall. Grows 18-24” tall, spreads slowly by rhizomes and reseeds. Eragrostis spectabilis is native to the East & Midwest United States.

Kelly Kilpatrick
Propagator