Eragrostis minor Seeds | Little Lovegrass
LATIN NAME: Eragrostis minor
COMMON NAME: Little Lovegrass
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Little Lovegrass, Eragrostis minor is a slender, tufted, annual in the grass family. In waste ground and dry fields of warm world, little lovegrass grows as a slender, tufted, annual grass with narrow, grey-green leaves and open, spreading panicles of tiny, grey-green spikelets that nod in summer breeze. Young plant grows into a flat-topped crown, around ten metres at maturity. Full sun brings out its best, in ordinary, well-drained ground. Plants that offer this much while asking this little are rare enough to treasure.
Science & Biotechnology
Like other members of the grass family, Eragrostis minor draws steady attention from botanists and plant breeders, who value the genus both as a subject of research and as a source of garden-worthy material. Little lovegrass has a genuine and interesting place in ecological and botanical research. Nothing exotic is required: standard seed-sowing practice, done carefully, is enough.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Little Lovegrass for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Ecologically, little lovegrass is a generous plant of open ground. Its airy heads and seeds feed small birds and insects, and its quick, tufted growth covers and holds soil on disturbed, sandy places where it grows. Its economic value lies mainly in its place in the grass family. Routine care after establishment is refreshingly light.
Lovegrasses include teff, the tiny iron-rich grain behind Ethiopian injera, a gluten-free staple of global athletes and gourmets alike.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Little Lovegrass, and the process is uncomplicated. Sow the seeds evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, keep the sowing evenly moist, and give the pot or tray full sun. Grow the youngsters on steadily in pots until well rooted, then move them to their final positions.
Our Take
The traditional uses covered above are what first made this species worth cultivating. Little Lovegrass has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. The essentials are simple: full sun, drainage and patience while it establishes.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Little Lovegrass often pair it with these related subjects: