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Purple love grass
Eragrostis spectabilis
Poaceae
 

Copyright by: Shirley Denton

General Landscape Uses: Groundcover in sunny moist soils. Wildflower gardens.

Availability: Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida.

Description: Medium herbaceous grass.

Dimensions: About 2-3 feet in height. About as broad as tall, or somewhat broader.

Growth Rate: Fast.

Range: Eastern, central and southern North America, and scattered nearly throughout Florida south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties; Mexico.

Plant Map Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.

Habitats: Pinelands and open, disturbed sites.

Soils: Moist to wet, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.

Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.

Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.

Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.

Light Requirements: Full sun.

Flower Color: Purple inflorescence.

Flower Characteristics: Showy inflorescence.

Flowering Season: Summer-fall.

Fruit: Inconspicuous caryopsis.

Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts pollinators.

Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.

References: Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual (2005).


Copyright by: Shirley Denton

Copyright by: Shirley Denton

Copyright by: Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida website.

Copyright by: Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida website.


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