Eragrostis elliottii
 
Common Names Elliott’s Lovegrass, Field Lovegrass, Blue Lovegrass
 
Zones 6–10
 
A fine-textured, warm-season bunchgrass native to the southeastern United States, Eragrostis elliottii adds soft movement and subtle color to naturalistic plantings. Its airy flower panicles emerge in late summer, creating a billowy haze that dances in the wind. Highly adaptable and drought tolerant, it’s ideal for erosion control, native meadows, and wildlife gardens.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Clump-forming perennial grass; upright to arching
Height: 1–3 ft (0.3–0.9 m); broader spread in mature clumps
Leaves: Narrow (¼ in), blue-green; linear and arching; silvery hue in full sun
Flowers: Wispy panicles; white to beige; bloom July–October
Fruit: Tiny, dry caryopses; dispersed by wind, gravity, or animals
Ecology: Native to flatwoods, prairies, pond margins, and disturbed sites; larval host for Zabulon skipper; seeds feed birds and invertebrates
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun
Watering: Dry to medium; drought tolerant once established
Soil: Sandy, well-drained; tolerates nutrient-poor substrates
Temperature: Hardy to ~–10°F (–23°C); evergreen in mild zones
Humidity: High tolerance; thrives in humid and dry climates
Propagation: Seed or division
Tolerance: Drought, erosion, air pollution, black walnut allelopathy
 
Landscape Use Excellent for mass plantings, borders, and native restoration. Use in meadows, rain gardens, or as a soft-textured groundcover. Pairs well with Muhlenbergia capillaris, Solidago odora, and Coreopsis leavenworthii.