Skip to main content

Big Top Lovegrass

Eragrostis hirsuta

Last reviewed: October 2026

Big Top Lovegrass (Eragrostis hirsuta)
Photo: (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Big Top Lovegrass (Eragrostis hirsuta) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

18"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, DE, FL and 17 more states

Pollinators

bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Big Top Lovegrass.

Try it with your yardDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Cross TimbersEdwards PlateauTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsPiedmontMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsSouthern Coastal Plain

Bigtop lovegrass is a native bunch grass that forms compact clumps with fine-textured foliage. It produces delicate, airy flower heads from June through September and thrives in sunny, dry conditions with minimal care.

Get an email before your first frost

We'll email you a week before frost can first reach your ZIP. You also get a printable fall checklist with your dates right away.

You'll also get our weekly yard notes. Unsubscribe anytime.

In an HOA neighborhood

Big Top Lovegrass takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Common name includes 'hairy' which reflects its somewhat wild appearance
  • May look unkempt compared to traditional turf grass
  • Native grasses often perceived as weedy by conservative HOAs

Wildlife value

This grass provides seeds for songbirds and small mammals. The dense clumps offer nesting sites and shelter for ground-dwelling wildlife.

Common questions

How much sun does Big Top Lovegrass need?
Big Top Lovegrass grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Big Top Lovegrass bloom?
Big Top Lovegrass blooms in June, July, August, and September.
Where is Big Top Lovegrass native?
Big Top Lovegrass (Eragrostis hirsuta) is native to AL, AR, DE, FL and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Big Top Lovegrass attract?
Big Top Lovegrass draws bees.
Is Big Top Lovegrass HOA-friendly?
Big Top Lovegrass takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Big Top Lovegrass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden
iPhone appAndroid app