Love grass
Eragrostis curvula · Poaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant love grass: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fine and graceful
- Flowering
- Summer to autumn (July-October)
- Adult size
- 40-80 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Fairly hardy (down to around -10°C)
- Origin
- South Africa
- Soil type
- Well-drained, drought-tolerant
Care
Light exposure
Place your eragrostis in full sun to promote dense growth and generous flowering. It also tolerates partial shade, but will be less compact. A bright location guarantees the best ornamental results.
Watering
Once established, this ornamental grass is very tolerant of drought. Water moderately during the active growing season (spring-summer), then reduce watering in autumn-winter. Avoid excessive moisture that could promote root rot.
Soil and drainage
Prefer well-drained, light, even poor soil. This grass thrives in sandy or gravelly soils. Adding coarse sand improves drainage if your soil is compact.
Pruning and cutting
In early spring (March-April), cut the clump back to 10-15 cm from the ground with a hedge trimmer or shears. This operation rejuvenates the plant and removes the dried parts from the previous year.
Fertilizing
Eragrostis is not demanding. A single application of balanced fertilizer in spring is plenty. Avoid excess nitrogen, which would promote loose foliage at the expense of compactness.
Diseases and pests
This is a robust plant rarely subject to pests. Good drainage prevents rot risks. In case of water stagnation, fungal issues may appear: improve air circulation and drainage accordingly.
Did you know?
Eragrostis curvula, native to the high plateaus of South Africa, has naturalized itself in the Mediterranean region and California, where it thrives in arid lands. Its name curvula refers to the slight curvature of its very fine spikelets, which gives it remarkable lightness and elegance in the wind.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Tufted hair grassDeschampsia cespitosa
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Reed canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.