How much sun does Bigtop Lovegrass need?

Bigtop Lovegrass grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Bigtop Lovegrass bloom?

Bigtop Lovegrass blooms in June, July, August, and September.

Where is Bigtop Lovegrass native?

Bigtop Lovegrass (Eragrostis hirsuta) is native to AL, AR, DE, FL and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Is Bigtop Lovegrass HOA-friendly?

Bigtop Lovegrass takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Bigtop Lovegrass

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Eragrostis hirsuta

Last reviewed: September 2026

Toxicity unknown

Bigtop 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

low

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, DE, FL and 17 more states

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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Cross Timbers Edwards Plateau Texas Blackland Prairies East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Piedmont Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern 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.

In an HOA neighborhood

Bigtop 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 Bigtop Lovegrass need?: Bigtop Lovegrass grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Bigtop Lovegrass bloom?: Bigtop Lovegrass blooms in June, July, August, and September.
Where is Bigtop Lovegrass native?: Bigtop Lovegrass (Eragrostis hirsuta) is native to AL, AR, DE, FL and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Bigtop Lovegrass HOA-friendly?: Bigtop 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 Bigtop Lovegrass? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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