Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana
- Phonetic Spelling
- kor-tah-DER-ee-ah sel-oh-AY-nah
- Description
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Cortaderia selloana is a large ornamental grass 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.
This plant is tolerant of a wide range of soils, coastal and sandy conditions, is highly salt tolerant, drought tolerant, and is highly resistant to deer grazing.
Proper spacing for these plants is about 10 feet apart.
**Caution: The blades of this grass have very sharp edges and is highly invasive in some areas of the United States
Soil:
Tolerates a variety of soils but prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soil; once established is drought tolerant
Inflorescence:
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
Family name Poaceae (Gramineae)
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
Best used as a specimen standing alone or against a backdrop of evergreens. Blooms in late summer and fall.
Tolerant of all conditions, prefers sun and well-drained soil, pest/disease free, needs abundant water and fertilizer during growing season. Drought resistant.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Coastal Rain Garden Drought Tolerant Rock Garden Coastal Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Jet Streams TM'
- 'Pumila'
- 'Rose Feder'
- 'Jet Streams TM'
- 'Jet Streams TM', 'Pumila', 'Rose Feder'
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Jet Streams TM'
- 'Pumila'
- 'Rose Feder'
- 'Jet Streams TM'
- 'Jet Streams TM', 'Pumila', 'Rose Feder'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cortaderia
- Species:
- selloana
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Very resistant to deer browsing.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 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
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gray/Silver
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Tall, white-silver feathered plumed spiklets, look like feather plume, 1-2' above mound
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- 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:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt