Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kor-tah-DER-ee-ah sel-oh-AY-nah
- Description
-
Pampas grass is a large ornamental in the Poaceae (grass) family originating from South America. Large, dense, grassy mound, 6-10' x 6-10'.
It prefers full sun and can add texture to a garden. These grasses produce tall, slim, weeping blades that can easily reach over a meter in length. The grass tends to congregate into tussocks, or clumps of grass. The showiest part of these plants is the tall silvery-white, feather-like plumes. These plumes are soft to the touch and make for an interesting accent in a garden which can be seen very well over other plants.
Tolerant of wide range of soils, coastal and sandy conditions, is highly salt tolerant, drought tolerant, and is highly resistant to deer grazing. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and it needs abundant water and fertilizer during growing season.
Proper spacing for these plants is about 10 feet apart. Best used as a specimen standing alone or against a backdrop of evergreens. Showy blooms in late summer and fall and are good in cut and dried arrangements.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves areelongated, whip-like, very sharp on edges
- Inflorescence is like a silvery-whiteplume ofr group of feathers
- Leaf midrib not white as miscanthus
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The blades of this grass have very sharp edges and is highly invasive in some areas of the United States
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Coastal Garden Drought Tolerant Rock Garden Coastal Rain Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Jet Streams TM'
- 'Pumila'
- 'Rose Feder'
- 'Jet Streams TM'
- 'Jet Streams TM', 'Pumila', 'Rose Feder'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Jet Streams TM'
- 'Pumila'
- 'Rose Feder'
- 'Jet Streams TM'
- 'Jet Streams TM', 'Pumila', 'Rose Feder'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cortaderia
- Species:
- selloana
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Very resistant to deer browsing.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 9 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gray/Silver
- Pink
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Tall, white-silver feathered plumed spiklets, look like feather plume, 1-2' above mound. Silver-white plumes with a pink blush; remains attractive until mid winter; good in dried arrangements; female plants produce more showy plumes than male plants
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow leaf blades are very sharp. Numerous, whip-like, very sharp serrated margins
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Pollution
- Salt
- Problems:
- Weedy
