Weeping Love Grass
Eragrostis curvula
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Plant identification, safety, and edibility depend on local conditions, cultivars, and correct identification. Consult a qualified botanist or forager before consuming or handling wild specimens. How we source & review →
Pl. F906 — Eragrostis curvula
Eragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvulaEragrostis curvula
IOverview
Overview
Weeping Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula) is a perennial grass native to Cyprus and several other regions in Africa including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. This plant thrives in full sun and prefers moist conditions with light to heavy soil types. It can grow up to 1.2 meters tall and is known for its ornamental value due to its cascading form. Weeping Love Grass is also edible, as its seeds are commonly used in various culinary applications. Its distinctive feature lies in its graceful, weeping habit, which gives it a unique appearance in gardens or landscapes.
Quick answers
What is Weeping Love Grass?
Weeping Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula) is a perennial grass native to Cyprus and several other regions in Africa including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. This plant thrives in full sun and prefers moist conditions with light to heavy soil types.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
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
What you'll need
A container or plot in full sun, moist soil, and seeds or seedlings.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant Weeping Love Grass in spring when the last frost has passed.
- 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
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds in the ground or start them indoors and transplant seedlings once they have two sets of leaves.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged, providing about 2-3 cm per week.
- 6
Ongoing care
Continue regular watering during dry spells and mulch around the base for moisture retention. Prune dead foliage as needed.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune back any dead or yellowing leaves to maintain a neat appearance, but avoid cutting into healthy green growth.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in too heavy soil, and not providing enough sunlight are common issues beginners should watch out for.
VIEdible & utility
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
VIIDistribution
21 native · 9 introduced
Distribution
21 native · 9 introducedDistribution across2 continents· 21 native· 9 introduced
Europe1 region
native (1)Cyprus
Africa22 regions
native (15)AngolaBotswanaBurundiCameroonEritreaEswatiniEthiopiaKenyaLesothoMalawiMozambiqueNamibiaTanzaniaZambiaZimbabwe
introduced (7)BotswanaEritreaLesothoMalawiMozambiqueNamibiaZimbabwe
Broader regions
native:Northern Provinces, Zaïre, Free State, Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal
introduced:Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXI
Explore further
Companion planting
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
- How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
Back to the cataloguePlant id · f9062ea9-42e0-46ee-9877-446442c99bac
Decision aid
Choosing between Weeping Love Grass and something else?
Continue reading
❦❦❦❦
Endpaper · archive updates
Get archive updates
Occasional email when substantial new content lands — plant profiles, seasonal growing notes, folk-remedy additions. Free, no tracking, unsubscribe anytime.