Purple Lovegrass

Scientific Name: Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud.


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Eragrostis von Wolf/ Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud.

Purple Lovegrass
General Information
Usda SymbolERSP
GroupMonocot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsERSP

Plant Guide

Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Purple Lovegrass is planted.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

petticoat-climber, tumble grass

Uses

Livestock readily graze purple lovegrass in the spring and early summer. On heavily grazed areas, deer dig up and eat the basal part of the stem during the winter.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Purple lovegrass is a native, warm-season, perennial bunch grass. The height is between 1 and 3 feet. The leaf blade is 8 to 18 inches long; densely hairy; stiffly ascending when young; tapers to fine point. The leaf sheath is longer than internodes; covered with long, gray hair. The ligule is hairy. The seedhead is open panicle 1 to 2 feet long and about as wide, bright purple until maturity; tuft of hair in axial of seed stalks, spikelets 6- to 12-flowered. Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Management

This grass adds variety to livestock diet but is seldom abundant enough to be a key management species. It makes maximum production when no more than 50 percent of current year's growth by weight is grazed off. A summer grazing deferment of at least 90 days improves plant vigor. This grass increases under controlled annual burning.

Establishment

Growth starts in the early spring and continues into the fall, Purple lovegrass grows in colonies, It never makes up a large percentage of plant composition, The seedheads are weak, break off easily, and tumble in the wind, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Purple Lovegrass., Some plants produce short, slender rhizomes, It is primarily adapted to medium- and coarse-textured soils, Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Please contact your local NRCS Field Office,

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-43
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceNone
Frost Free Days, Minimum100
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseLow
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Minimum4.0
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim43560
Planting Density per Acre, Minim10912
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Minimum10
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)4
Salinity ToleranceNone
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

After Harvest Regrowth RateSlow
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring
BloatNone
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorGreen
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Fruit/Seed ColorYellow
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)0.9
Growth RateModerate
Growth FormRhizomatous
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Foliage TextureFine


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateModerate
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorHigh
Seed Spread RateSlow
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Seed per Pound1059100
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Commercial AvailabilityContracting Only
Bloom PeriodSpring
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalMedium
Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Purple Lovegrass

Purple Lovegrass

Purple Lovegrass

Purple Lovegrass

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