Plant care
Purple Love Grasstemperature & humidity
Eragrostis spectabilis
More about purple love grass
Ideal temperature for purple love grass
Temperature kills fewer purple love grass plants than you'd think. What kills them is the micro-climate within a normal-temperature room — a leaf pressed against single-glazed winter glass, the hot dry updraft directly above a radiator, the cold blast from an AC vent. The thermostat reading at −20°C to 38°C (−4°F to 100°F) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly 20°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Purple Love Grass is comparatively hardy (USDA 5–9, RHS H6). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for purple love grass
Purple Love Grass sits happiest at around 30–70% relative humidity. Adapted to the low humidity of North American prairies and open woodlands. Tolerates both arid and moderately humid conditions without issue. No supplemental humidity required. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Purple Love Grass temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for purple love grass?
Purple Love Grass grows best between −20°C to 38°C (−4°F to 100°F). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can purple love grass tolerate?
Purple Love Grass starts to suffer below roughly 20°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 5–9, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does purple love grass need?
Purple Love Grass prefers about 30–70% relative humidity. Adapted to the low humidity of North American prairies and open woodlands. Tolerates both arid and moderately humid conditions without issue. No supplemental humidity required.
How do I raise humidity for purple love grass?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can purple love grass live outside?
Purple Love Grass is rated for USDA zone 5–9 and RHS hardiness H6. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More purple love grass care
In the UK? Keeping purple love grass warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full purple love grass care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.