Weeping Lovegrass
Family Poaceae
Eragrostis curvula
Designation/Status
Arizona Noxious Weed List -
Not Listed
Federal Noxious Weed List – Not Listed
Origins
South Africa, Tanzania
Plant Characteristics
Life Cycle: Is a perennial bunchgrass
that flowers typically from May through November.
Visual
Appearance:
Flowers are small and numerous and produce minute seeds that
number about 1.5 million/lb. May reach at height of 2-5 ft. Light
green in color, the leaves are 24-48 inches long and are drooping,
slender and tapering to fine hair like brownish threads.
Habitat
Prefers sandy sites with precipitation exceeding 17 inches
annually. However, it has been shown to inhabit hot, dry
locations in full sun in most soils if they are well drained.
Control Measures
Mechanical and Cultural: Hand digging out the root
system in late winter or early spring, followed by a prescribed
fire to kill remaining seeds has been shown to be effective.
Biological: None
Chemical:
Glyphosate herbicides are effective in spring, after the new
foliage is in full growth, but before blossom heads have formed.
Other Points of Interest
Imported in 1927 by the US Dept of Agriculture for use in erosion
control. When not continuously grazed, the coarse growth is
unattractive to grazing animals.
