Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is a tough, tall-growing grass that forms dense, substantial clumps (tussocks) featuring arching, finely serrated, narrow green leaves that are topped in fall by huge, feathery, silvery white plumes. First introduced into the U. S. in 1848, this giant ornamental grass is indigenous to southern South America.

It has been a popular ornamental grass in southern and western parts of the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 7-11).  Pampas grass forms a dense grassy mound, 6-12 feet tall (includes the plume) and 6-10 feet wide. Blades are slim and weeping that can easily reach over a yard (3 feet) or more in length. The showiest part of this grass is the tall silvery-white, feather-like inflorescences (plumes) which are soft to the touch and are an accent feature that stand tall in the landscape.

Locate clumps on garden sites capturing 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily. This aggressive warm season grass is tolerant to a wide range of soils, coastal and sandy conditions, and is highly salt tolerant. Pampas grass is also exceptionally drought tolerant. It is planted at the beach, city parks or in your neighbor’s yard. The big feathery plumes sway with a passing breeze.

Cutback tussocks in early spring. Use a good pair of lopper shears and wear protective clothing for bodily safety to prevent cuts and scratches from the sharp grass blades.

Pampas grass has no serious insect or disease problems and is highly resistant to deer grazing. It may invasively self-seed in locales with warm winters. Pampas grass varieties are generally sold at full-service garden centers in zones 7-11 as well as e-commerce nurseries.

Its large flower plumes are use in dried arrangements. Silvery white plumes (sometimes with traces of pink) are more impressive on female plants than on male plants. A few of the varieties currently available include:

‘Gold Band’- compact, 4-6 feet tall, with gold-edged blades

‘Pumila’- dwarf variety, 4–5 feet in height. Variable yellow, white, or ivory plumes. 

‘Rosea’ – called pink pampas for its pink plumes, 7-8 feet tall

‘White Stripe’- lovely, variegated foliage but not as showy in flower

‘Aureolineata’- grows 4-6 ft tall and wide; leaf edges with gold bands (zones 8-10)