Urban’s Lovegrass: A Rare Puerto Rican Native Worth Knowing About
If you’re a native plant enthusiast with a passion for grasses, you might have stumbled across the intriguing name Urban’s lovegrass. This annual grass, scientifically known as Eragrostis urbaniana, is one of those botanical gems that doesn’t get much spotlight—but perhaps it should.
What is Urban’s Lovegrass?
Urban’s lovegrass is a native annual grass species that calls Puerto Rico home. As part of the Poaceae family, it shares company with other grasses, sedges, rushes, and similar grass-like plants. Like many lovegrass species, it likely produces delicate, airy seed heads that dance in the breeze—though specific details about its appearance are surprisingly scarce in horticultural literature.
Where Does It Grow?
This grass is endemic to Puerto Rico, meaning it evolved there and occurs naturally nowhere else in the world. For gardeners in Puerto Rico, this represents a truly local treasure that connects your landscape directly to the island’s unique botanical heritage.
Should You Plant Urban’s Lovegrass?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While Urban’s lovegrass sounds like a wonderful addition to any native plant garden, there’s a catch—it’s incredibly difficult to find information about growing it, and even harder to find seeds or plants for sale.
The Pros:
- It’s a true Puerto Rican native, supporting local ecosystems
- As an annual grass, it likely provides seasonal interest
- Native grasses generally support local wildlife and pollinators
- Helps preserve Puerto Rico’s unique botanical heritage
The Challenges:
- Extremely limited availability in the nursery trade
- Minimal cultivation information available
- Unknown specific growing requirements
- Uncertain conservation status
Growing Conditions and Care
Unfortunately, specific growing requirements for Urban’s lovegrass remain a mystery in most gardening resources. However, we can make some educated guesses based on its Puerto Rican origins and grass family characteristics:
- Likely thrives in tropical conditions
- Probably prefers well-draining soils
- As an annual, would need to reseed each year
- May tolerate some drought once established
Alternative Native Grasses
If you’re passionate about incorporating native grasses into your Puerto Rican landscape but can’t locate Urban’s lovegrass, consider exploring other native Eragrostis species or native grasses that are more readily available. Your local native plant society or extension office might have recommendations for similar species that are easier to source and grow.
The Bottom Line
Urban’s lovegrass represents one of those fascinating botanical mysteries—a native species that seems to have slipped through the cracks of modern horticulture. While we can’t recommend specific growing techniques or guarantee you’ll find it at your local nursery, it serves as a reminder of how much we still have to learn about our native plant communities.
If you do encounter this grass in the wild or manage to source seeds through native plant networks, approach it with the respect due to a potentially rare species. Always ensure any plant material is responsibly and legally sourced, and consider contributing to our collective knowledge by documenting your growing experiences.
