South African Lovegrass: A Drought-Tolerant Ornamental with Trade-offs
Looking for a grass that can handle tough conditions and still look good doing it? South African lovegrass (Eragrostis plana) might catch your eye with its fine-textured foliage and delicate seed heads that dance in the breeze. But before you add this perennial grass to your shopping list, let’s dig into what makes it tick – and whether it’s the right fit for your garden.
What Is South African Lovegrass?
As the name suggests, South African lovegrass hails from southern Africa and belongs to the lovegrass family. This perennial grass forms attractive clumps with fine, narrow leaves and produces airy, delicate seed heads that add movement and texture to the landscape. It’s the kind of grass that looks effortlessly elegant swaying in a gentle breeze.
Where Does It Grow?
In the United States, South African lovegrass has established itself in South Carolina, where it has naturalized and reproduces on its own in the wild. This non-native species has found the climate to its liking and has managed to persist without human intervention.
The Appeal Factor
What draws gardeners to South African lovegrass? Several factors make it appealing:
- Fine, graceful texture that adds elegance to plantings
- Delicate seed heads that provide visual interest
- Drought tolerance once established
- Low maintenance requirements
- Ability to handle poor soils
Garden Role and Design Uses
South African lovegrass works well in several landscape applications. It’s particularly useful in drought-tolerant gardens where water conservation is a priority. The grass can serve as an accent plant, providing textural contrast to broader-leafed plants, or it can be massed for erosion control on slopes. Its fine texture makes it a good companion for more structural plants in contemporary landscape designs.
Growing Conditions and Care
If you decide to grow South African lovegrass, here’s what it needs to thrive:
- Sunlight: Full sun for best performance
- Soil: Well-drained soils; tolerates poor soil conditions
- Water: Drought tolerant once established, but benefits from occasional deep watering
- Climate: Suitable for USDA hardiness zones 8-11
- Maintenance: Low maintenance; cut back in late winter before new growth begins
The Non-Native Consideration
Here’s where things get a bit complicated. While South African lovegrass can be an attractive and useful garden plant, it’s important to remember that it’s not native to North America. As gardeners, we’re increasingly aware of the benefits that native plants provide to local ecosystems, including supporting native wildlife and maintaining ecological relationships that have developed over thousands of years.
Since this grass is wind-pollinated, it doesn’t offer the same pollinator benefits that native flowering plants provide. If supporting local wildlife is a priority for your garden, you might want to consider native grass alternatives.
Native Alternatives to Consider
Before settling on South African lovegrass, consider these native alternatives that can provide similar aesthetic appeal while supporting local ecosystems:
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): Beautiful fine-textured grass with excellent fall color
- Buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides): Drought-tolerant native with fine texture
- Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula): Graceful seed heads and excellent wildlife value
The Bottom Line
South African lovegrass can be an attractive, low-maintenance addition to drought-tolerant gardens, especially in zones 8-11. Its fine texture and graceful appearance make it a solid choice for contemporary landscapes and erosion control. However, as responsible gardeners, it’s worth considering whether native alternatives might better serve both your aesthetic goals and the local ecosystem.
If you do choose to plant South African lovegrass, monitor it to ensure it doesn’t spread beyond your intended planting area, and consider balancing it with plenty of native plants that support local wildlife. After all, the best gardens are beautiful and ecologically responsible.
