Weeping Love Grass
Eragrostis curvula
Family: Poaceae or Gramineae
What it is like
Eragrostis curvula is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1.2 m (4ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Apomictic (reproduce by seeds formed without sexual fusion), wind. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 1.2
Where it is found
Not known
S. Africa - north to Zimbabwe and the Transvaal.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Seed - cooked. Used as a grain.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 3
A deep-rooted plant, it is considered excellent for protecting terraces and for grassing water channels and is valuable for erosion control. In Lesotho, the plant is used to make baskets, brooms, hats, ropes, and candles.
Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.
Biomass: Provides a large quantity of plant material that can be converted into fuel etc.
Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.
How it is grown
Easily grown in most well-drained soils so long as the plant is in a hot, dry, sunny position. Weeping love grass is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 31 to 163cm, an annual temperature range of 5.9 to 26.2°C and a pH in the range of 5.0 to 8.2. It is adapted to semi-arid and desert areas and sandy soils, growing well on low fertility soils. A very drought-resistant plant, but it lacks hardiness for more northern areas. It grows well on a wide range of well-drained soils, especially sandy loams; moderately frost-resistant in southern areas. Plants are hardy to about -5°c and succeed outdoors in the milder areas of Britain. The roots contain pyrocatechol, suggesting an explanation for the plants resistance to nematodes. The species and its varieties are apomictic (producing seed without fertilization) although sexual plants have occasionally been found.
Propagating it: Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts. The seed can also be sown in situ in mid to late spring, though in a cool summer it may fail to ripen many seeds. Division in spring.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 6-9
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist