African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula)

African lovegrass is a hardy, drought-tolerant grass that grows in clumps. It is poor quality feed for livestock and can quickly colonise overgrazed and disturbed sites.

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How does this weed affect you?

African lovegrass takes over pastures and disturbed areas.  It degrades pastures because it’s not very nutritious for livestock. There are seven types of African lovegrass in Australia.

What does it look like?

African lovegrass is a perennial grass that grows in clumps up to 1.2 m tall.

Leaves are:

• dark green to blue-green
• 3 mm wide 
• with rolled edges.

African lovegrass has a small, thin structure at the base of the leaf blade. This is a ligule. The ligule has a ring of white hairs. 

Stems are:

• slender
• erect 
• sometimes bent at the nodes. 

Flowers are:

• grey or greyish-green when young
• straw-coloured when mature
• in groups of 4 to 13 on a spike
• 4–10 mm long
• 1–1.5 mm wide
• usually present in summer
• sometimes present year-round in coastal areas.

Seeds are:

• about 1 mm long
• clustered at the end of the stems
• in groups 6–30 cm long
• present on the plant from mid-summer to autumn. 

Roots are:

• fibrous.

Similar looking plants

African lovegrass looks like other perennial pasture tussock grasses. It is difficult to tell native and introduced Eragrostis species from each other. Other desirable tussock grasses such as Poa tussock (Poa labillardieri) also look similar. 

Consol lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula cv. Consol)  is a non-weed cultivar of African lovegrass. It is grown in pastures on sandy soils. The differences between this cultivar and the weed African lovegrass are subtle. It is difficult to tell them apart.

Where is it found?

African lovegrass grows throughout NSW, on roadsides and in grazing land. 

African lovegrass is native to southern Africa. It was introduced in Argentina and the United States it a forage plant. It was accidentally introduced into Australia before 1900. It has since been deliberately introduced for experiments.

What type of environment does it grow in?

African lovegrass thrives on acidic, sandy soils with low fertility. It is heat and drought tolerant. Frost can damage it, but it regrows in warmer weather

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of African lovegrass during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2024)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

By seeds

Each seedhead can produce 300 to 1000 seeds. Seeds have high viability in the first year and after 5 years, more than half of the seeds are still viable.  Some seed can remain viable for up to 17 years.

Seed spreads:

• short distances by wind
• between paddocks by livestock
• along roads by machinery and vehicles
• in hay and fodder
• by water.

References

Campbell, M (2002). Effects of age on the germination of African lovegrass seed, Grasslands Society Newsletter, Vol. 17, No. 1.

Crider, F. J. (1945). Three introduced lovegrasses for soil conservation (No. 730). US Department of Agriculture.

Csurhes, S., Leigh, C., & Walton, C. (2016). African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula)(Invasive plant risk assessment).

Firn, J. (2009). African lovegrass in Australia: a valuable pasture species or embarrassing invader?. TG: Tropical Grasslands, 43(2), 86.

Parsons WT and Cuthbertson EC (2001). Noxious weeds in Australia 2nd Edn, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.

More information

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Control

Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

To manage African lovegrass: 

• control mature plants year round, with extra effort in spring before flowering
• look for flushes of seedlings after rain when temperatures are over 10°C (most seeds germinate in autumn and spring) and kill the seedlings before they are six weeks old
• keep looking for new plants each year as some seed remains viable for up to 17 years.

Prevention

To reduce the chance of African lovegrass seed being introduced to your property:

• avoid bringing in hay, grain, or silage from African lovegrass areas
• limit animal movement from infested areas into clean paddocks
• check the coats of new livestock for weed seeds
• Keep new livestock in an area that can be inspected for seedlings for at least 10 days
• clean vehicles and machinery before coming onto your property.

Other method that will limit the establishment of African love grass include:

• broadcasting seeds of desirable species in disturbed pastures.
• revegetate unproductive areas
• spray the boundaries of infested paddocks with a 20–25 m strip.

Early detection

Look for new plants and control African lovegrass as soon as it appears. Minimise soil disturbance when clearing. Spot spraying may be better than disturbing a large patch of African lovegrass. 

Pasture management

Maintain healthy pastures

Healthy pastures are the best long-term defence against African lovegrass. It establishes in thin and bare patches. Pastures with less than 70% ground cover are at more risk of invasion.  

To maintain pastures:

• grow combinations of winter and summer pastures
• rest pastures between grazing periods
• adjust grazing to:
  • always keep at least 90% of the ground covered with good pasture plants
  • reduce numbers of grazing animals before overgrazing 

• test soil to check fertility
• use fertiliser if needed.

On arable land establishing a new pasture can be an effective way to control African lovegrass. Consult an agronomist for variety recommendations for your soil type and area. To sow a new pasture into an infested paddock:

• burn or graze heavily to remove dead material for large infestations
• cultivate to 10 cm depth in winter (chisel ploughs are not very effective for removing large clumps)
• cultivate again in summer to remove any remaining plants or remove plants by grazing and/or spraying if direct drilling
• soil test and use fertiliser
• grow cereal or fodder crops for at least two years, while controlling African lovegrass to reduce the seedbank
• sow the new pasture in autumn (when soil moisture is adequate and before the coldest winter months) if including annual legumes
• spray prior to sowing if new seedlings or other weeds are present
• spell the new pasture for 12 months or graze lightly only if the pasture is over 10 cm high and soil moisture not limiting (never cut a new pasture for hay or silage)
• continue to control any new African lovegrass plants.

Inaccessible spots can be spot sprayed and surface sown in summer and topdressed with seed and fertiliser in autumn. Aerial spraying and re-sowing pastures is risky. African lovegrass usually grows on poor soils. Large amounts of lime and fertiliser are needed to improve the soil.

Support the new pasture by:

• allowing the pasture to set seed in the first spring-summer
• graze temperate pastures to 5–7.5 cm in autumn then topdress with fertiliser
• graze intermittently through winter
• spell the paddock in spring of the second year
• allow a summer rest period from grazing
• start to use strategic rotational grazing after the second summer to avoid overgrazing or under-utilisation of the pasture.

Grazing to control African lovegrass

When: African lovegrass is young and green.

Follow up: In spring and autumn with other control methods. 

Heavy grazing can help break up old unpalatable material. Grazing can stop African lovegrass seeding, but should not be the main control strategy.

Fire

When: Winter, with dry cool conditions and low fire danger.

Follow up: With chemical control when regrowth appears.

Burning African lovegrass helps reduce old growth and allows other plants to germinate. Burning can dry out soils. This can reduce pasture growth and African lovegrass will mature faster. 

Chemical control

Spraying

When: Spring to summer, or when flushes of seedlings appear

Herbicides are most effective in combination with healthy, competitive pastures. Spraying as a single control method is only effective where African lovegrass is selectively removed from a strong pasture.

Burn heavy infestations before spraying the regrowth. 

Flupropanate gives the  best control of African lovegrass. It can take three months to have a noticeable effect and up to 18 months to kill the plant. Avoid spraying in winter. Observe grazing withholding periods. 

Glyphosate will also kill African lovegrass. Apply to actively growing plants in spring and summer. Use a glyphosate based herbicide to kill any regrowth.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9792 Expires 30/11/2025
Flupropanate 745 g/L (Tussock®)
Rate: 1.5–3.0 L/ha
Comments: Ground and aerial boom application. Only apply to green actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9792 Expires 30/11/2025
Flupropanate 745 g/L (Tussock®)
Rate: 150–300 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray application. Only apply to green actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Flupropanate 745 g/L (Tussock®)
Rate: 300 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray application. Apply July to December.
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Flupropanate 745 g/L (Tussock®)
Rate: 3.0 L/ha
Comments: Spray using 150 L water/ha. Apply July to December.
Withholding period: Spot spray: Do NOT graze or cut for stock feed for at least 14 days. Blanket spray: Do NOT graze, or cut for stock feed for at least 4 months. If stock are grazed in treated areas after required time has passed, remove stock from treated areas and do NOT slaughter or milk for human consumption until they have been on clean feed for at least 14 days.
Herbicide group: 15 (previously group J), Inhibition of very long chain fatty acid synthesis (VLCFA inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 1.0 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray actively growing plants.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 6.0 L per 100 L water
Comments: Boom application for actively growing plants
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Disclaimers

Pasture improvement may be associated with an increase in the incidence of certain livestock health disorders. Livestock and production losses from some disorders are possible. Management may need to be modified to minimise risk. Consult your veterinarian or adviser when planning pasture improvement. The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Local Land Services Amendment Act 2016 restrict some pasture improvement practices where existing pasture contains native species. Contact Local Land Services for further details.

Reviewed 2024