The misty display of Purple Lovegrass, Eragrostis spectabilis, captures everyone’s attention. In late summer, an airy cloud of purplish-red blossoms on tall 2′ stems float over a 12″ mound of thick green blades. Autumn turns the blades into shades of bronze and purple, and an interesting sight appears when the tall seed stalks break off from the plant and blow along the ground like tumbleweeds. Deer resistant. An easy-to-grow Missouri and Illinois native perennial bunchgrass, it tolerates drought and will grow well, even in your hottest, driest spots.

Use Purple Lovegrass in native gardens and naturalized areas. Its good clumping habit makes it ideal to edge walkways, driveways, and gardens. It works well in perennial borders and cottage gardens and can be used as a ground cover. Purple Lovegrass can be mowed or cut back if a tidier look is wanted.

Plant in full sun. Easy to grow in well-drained soils. It prefers sandy to rocky soil and grows well in poor soils as long as good drainage is provided. Cut back plants in fall to late winter before new growth occurs.