Wilman Lovegrass: A Drought-Tolerant Grass for Challenging Landscapes
Meet Wilman lovegrass (Eragrostis superba), a hardy perennial grass that’s made quite a name for itself in the American Southwest. Originally hailing from southern Africa, this resilient bunch grass has found a new home in some of our most challenging climates, from the deserts of Arizona to the coastal areas of California.
What Is Wilman Lovegrass?
Wilman lovegrass is a non-native perennial grass that forms attractive clumps up to 3.5 feet tall. With its fine-textured green foliage and erect growth habit, it creates a fountain-like appearance that can add structure to drought-tolerant landscapes. The plant produces small yellow flowers in late spring, though they’re not particularly showy, followed by brown seeds from summer through fall.
Where Does It Grow?
This adaptable grass has established itself across several southwestern states, including Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Texas. It thrives in areas with 210 or more frost-free days and can handle minimum temperatures down to 12°F, making it suitable for USDA hardiness zones 9-11.
Why Gardeners Choose Wilman Lovegrass
There are several reasons why this grass catches the eye of water-wise gardeners:
- Exceptional drought tolerance: Once established, it can survive on just 10-40 inches of annual precipitation
- Rapid growth: It establishes quickly and regrows rapidly after cutting
- Low maintenance: Requires minimal fertilization and care
- Erosion control: The deep root system (minimum 16 inches) helps stabilize soil
- Adaptable: Tolerates a wide pH range from 4.5 to 8.0
Growing Conditions and Care
Wilman lovegrass is refreshingly undemanding once you understand its preferences:
- Soil: Prefers coarse to medium-textured soils; avoid heavy clay
- Water: Medium moisture use, but highly drought tolerant
- Sun: Full sun only – this grass is shade intolerant
- Climate: Thrives in hot, dry conditions with low humidity
The active growing season is summer, and you can expect rapid establishment from seed. With over one million seeds per pound, a little goes a long way! The grass has a relatively short lifespan but readily self-seeds under favorable conditions.
Landscape Uses
This versatile grass works well in:
- Xeriscaping and drought-tolerant gardens
- Erosion control on slopes
- Naturalized areas requiring minimal maintenance
- Buffer zones around more formal plantings
Things to Consider
While Wilman lovegrass has its merits, there are some important considerations:
- As a non-native species, it doesn’t provide the same ecological benefits as native grasses
- It can spread readily by seed, so monitor its growth if you prefer controlled plantings
- The fine texture and brown seed heads may not suit all landscape aesthetics
- Limited wildlife and pollinator benefits compared to native alternatives
Native Alternatives to Consider
Before planting Wilman lovegrass, consider these native alternatives that offer similar drought tolerance with greater ecological benefits:
- Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis): Excellent drought tolerance with beautiful seed heads
- Buffalo grass (Poaceae dactyloides): Low-growing, extremely drought tolerant
- Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula): Attractive seed heads and good erosion control
- Arizona fescue (Festuca arizonica): Native to the Southwest with excellent drought tolerance
The Bottom Line
Wilman lovegrass can be a practical choice for challenging sites where few plants will thrive. Its rapid establishment, drought tolerance, and low maintenance requirements make it useful for erosion control and low-water landscaping. However, whenever possible, consider native grass alternatives that provide the same benefits while supporting local ecosystems and wildlife. If you do choose to plant Wilman lovegrass, monitor its spread and be prepared for its enthusiastic self-seeding habits!
