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Weeping Love Grass

Eragrostis curvula
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Eragrostis curvula (Weeping Love Grass) — botanical photograph
Pl. F906 — Eragrostis curvula
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Overview

Weeping Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula) is a perennial grass native to Cyprus, with an introduced range that includes Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and other regions in Africa. This plant thrives in full sun and prefers moist conditions, growing best in light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) soils. It can reach a height of 1.2 meters and is known for its ornamental value due to its cascading form, making it an attractive addition to gardens and landscapes. The seeds of Weeping Love Grass are edible and can be used in various culinary applications after harvesting and preparation. They are often incorporated into traditional dishes or ground into flour for baking. This grass also serves practical purposes such as weaving material, biomass production, and erosion control. Its distinctive weeping habit sets it apart from other grasses, providing a unique aesthetic appeal. Weeping Love Grass is hardy in USDA zones 6-9 and grows rapidly with a graminoid growth habit. While not medicinal, its edible seeds make it valuable for culinary use.

Quick answers

What is Weeping Love Grass?

Weeping Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula) is a perennial grass native to Cyprus, with an introduced range that includes Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and other regions in Africa.

Growingconditions · propagation · uses
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Cultivation

Weeping Love Grass thrives in full sun and prefers moist conditions with light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) soils. It is hardy in zones 6-9 and can grow up to 1.2 meters tall. Propagate through seed. The edible parts are the seeds, which can be harvested for food. This perennial graminoid requires a soil pH between 4.5 and 8.5 for optimal growth.
Light
Full sun
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
6-9
Life cycle
Perennial
Habit
Graminoid
Mature size
1.2 m tall
Soil pH
4.5–8.5
For first-time growers

How to grow Weeping Love Grass for the first time

8steps

Start with Weeping Love Grass by ensuring you have the right conditions and care, making it a simple addition to your garden.

  1. 1

    What you'll need

    A container or plot in full sun, moist soil, and seeds or seedlings.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant Weeping Love Grass in spring when the last frost has passed.

  3. 3

    Soil and container prep

    Prepare a well-draining soil with a pH between 4.5 and 8.5, ensuring it's light, medium, or heavy as needed.

  4. 4

    Sowing or transplanting

    Direct sow seeds in the ground or start them indoors and transplant seedlings once they have two sets of leaves.

  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged, providing about 2-3 cm per week.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Continue regular watering during dry spells and mulch around the base for moisture retention. Prune dead foliage as needed.

  7. 7

    Harvest or pruning

    Prune back any dead or yellowing leaves to maintain a neat appearance, but avoid cutting into healthy green growth.

  8. 8

    Common mistakes

    Overwatering, planting in too heavy soil, and not providing enough sunlight are common issues beginners should watch out for.

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Edible & utility

Edible parts:Seed
Edible uses: The seeds of Weeping Love Grass are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are often used in traditional dishes after being harvested and prepared. The seeds can also be ground into flour for baking.
Other uses:Weaving materialBiomassErosion control
Contextrange · companions · related
VII

Distribution

21 native · 119 introduced
Distribution across4 continents· 21 native· 119 introduced
Europe12 regions
native (1)Cyprus
introduced (11)AustriaBelgiumCyprusFranceGermanyGreeceItalyPortugalSpainSwitzerlandUnited Kingdom
Asia12 regions
introduced (12)ChinaGeorgiaIranJapanMyanmarPakistanPhilippinesSaudi ArabiaSouth KoreaTaiwanTurkeyYemen
Americas8 regions
introduced (8)BoliviaColombiaCosta RicaHondurasPeruPuerto RicoUnited StatesUruguay
Africa33 regions
native (15)AngolaBotswanaBurundiCameroonEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaKenyaLesothoMalawiMozambiqueNamibiaTanzaniaZambiaZimbabwe
introduced (18)AngolaBotswanaBurundiCameroonEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaKenyaLesothoMadagascarMalawiMauritiusMoroccoMozambiqueNamibiaTanzaniaZambiaZimbabwe
Broader regions
native:Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces, Zaïre
introduced:Alabama, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Arkansas, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, California, Cape Provinces, Cayman Is., Chile Central, Chile South, Colorado, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Florida, Free State, Illinois, Jawa, Kansas, Kentucky, KwaZulu-Natal, Louisiana, Maryland, Masachusettes, Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Missouri, New Guinea, New Jersey, New Mexico, New South Wales, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, North Carolina, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Ogasawara-shoto, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Queensland, Réunion, South Australia, South Carolina, St.Helena, Tasmania, Tennessee, Texas, Transcaucasus, Utah, Victoria, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Virginia, Western Australia, Yugoslavia, Zaïre
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Specimen gallery

1 image
Eragrostis curvula (Weeping Love Grass) — botanical photograph
Weeping Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula)
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Explore further

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