Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloana
Poaceae (Grass Family)
▲ mature, flowering plant
▲▼ inflorescences
▲ foliage
Cortaderia selloana: Pampas Grass
Location near campus: in ornamental grass bed toward southwest corner of Master Gardener areas north of Botanical Center Building in Nathanael Green park at the Botanical Center.
· warm-season grass native to South America, with about ½ to 1 inch wide and 24-36 inch long dark green leaves
· foliage grows 3-4 feet tall
· flowering stems are 4-7’ tall and are topped with a dense, creamy-white to pinkish-white, woolly panicle
· foliage turns tan in winter, panicle bleaches to white
· prefers moist, well-drained soils and needs full sun for best growth
· marginally hardy here; usually takes at least one year after planting to flower
· can be invasive in southern and western U.S.