// SPECIES PROFILE · GRASS · NATIVE

Purple lovegrass

Eragrostis spectabilis

Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) is a grass in the — family. Native range includes AR, KS, MO, OK. Hardy in zones 2b–11b. Mature size 8"–18". Blooms Aug–Oct.

// QUICK FACTS

Family: —
Group: grass
Native range: Native to 41 U.S. states, including AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC…
USDA hardiness: Zones 2b–11b
Mature size: 8"–18"
Sun: Full sun
Water: Low · xeric
Bloom: Aug–Oct
Wildlife value: Pollinator and wildlife support
Ecological role: native species profile

Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) — *Eragrostis spectabilis* — Purple lovegrass. Photo by Photo by David J. Stang via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field Notes

[ growing · ecology · siting · care ]

Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) is a grass in the — family. Native range includes AR, KS, MO, OK. Hardy in zones 2b–11b. Mature size 8"–18". Blooms Aug–Oct. Low water use makes it a strong candidate for xeric and drought-conscious plantings.

Why it's on this list: native species profile. Native-range data from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (NPIN), cross-checked against iNaturalist observations. Part of Rooted Revival's regional native plant catalog — true natives for Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas.

Companion Planting

[ guild · polyculture · cross-layer pairings ]

In the same native range, purple lovegrass pairs naturally with: Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).