Weeping Lovegrass

Eragrostis curvula

Found in roadsides, disturbed areas, often planted for soil stabilization and then long-persistent. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 2–5 feet
Spread: 2–3 feet
Light: Dappled sunlight, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

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Eragrostis curvula — whole photograph — (c) Ed Alverson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

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Greater Straw Sedge
Carex normalis
Sun: Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Green.
Similar growth form, height, spread
Bitter Panicgrass
Panicum amarum
Sun: Full sun. Soil: Dry to moist. Flowers: Pink.
Similar growth form, height, spread
Switchgrass
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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow, pink, purple or red.
Similar growth form, height, spread

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: April to July
Fruiting season: Spring to summer

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Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 55 Virginia counties.

Habitats

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.

Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there. All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Eragrostis

Hesperia leonardusLeonard's Skipper, Blazing Star Skipper, Pawnee Prairie Skipper, Pawnee Montane Skipper
Hylephila phyleusFiery Skipper
Lon hobomokHobomok Skipper
Lon zabulonZabulon Skipper
Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

3BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Eragrostis

Calcarius lapponicusLapland Longspur
Callipepla gambeliiGambel's Quail
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Poaceae
Hardiness: Zones 6a–9b
Flower color: Yellow
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Grows in clumps
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Spring
Fruit ends: Summer

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “April to July” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Grows in clumps” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 6a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “2–5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Spread · “2–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Weeping Love Grass

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source