Purple Lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis
Varieties We Bring In
Last received Sep 23, 2026.
We bring this in seasonally, so what is on the lot changes week to week. A received date shows when it last came in, not that it is here today.
Call (904) 471-0440 to confirm this plant and size before you make the trip.
About Purple Lovegrass
Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) is a native North American warm-season bunch grass celebrated for its billowing clouds of reddish-purple flower panicles that appear in late summer and persist into autumn. The fine-textured foliage turns red-orange in fall, adding multi-season color to meadows and naturalistic plantings. Starting at $4.95.
Plant details
- Bloom Season
- Summer, Fall
- Flower Color
- Purple
- Growth Rate
- Fast
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- Sandy, Well-drained
Best planting months
Seasonal care
New foliage emerges. Good planting window.
Handles summer heat well once established.
Bloom season. Foliage may begin to change or drop.
Dormant — drops foliage.
Care essentials
Grow in full sun for the best color and most billowing panicle display; tolerates partial sun but may produce fewer flower stems.
Water regularly for the first few weeks after planting until established; once established, no supplemental irrigation is needed even in drought. Avoid planting in consistently wet areas.
Thrives in nutrient-poor, well-drained sandy soils typical of NE Florida. Fertilization is generally unnecessary; overly rich soil promotes floppy growth. Cut back to a few inches in late winter before new growth emerges.
Similar needs
Switchgrass
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
Wiregrass
Shares 4 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, and zone 9a hardiness.
Baby Sun Rose
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
Carolina Wild Petunia
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
Christmas Jewel Holly
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
Common Mallow
Shares 5 of the same needs: full sun, low water, sandy, zone 9a hardiness, and pollinator-friendly.
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Common questions
Is Purple Lovegrass a good plant for St. Augustine?
Purple Lovegrass is a grass for Zone 9b coastal Florida gardens, reaching 1.5-2.5 feet (foliage); panicles raise height to 3-4 feet in bloom × 2-3 feet.
Care information verified from
Last reviewed March 2026. Our care guidance comes from trusted horticulture sources and decades of helping St. Augustine gardeners. Conditions here can vary dramatically from one area to the next, so come ask us and we'll tailor it to your yard.