Cortaderia selloana

Common Name - Pampas Grass

Pampas Grass, Cortaderia selloana, grows very fast and in some places,  such as California and Hawaii, it is described as a noxious weed.  In New Zealand and South Africa it is even banned from sale.  This could be because it can have millions of fertile seeds in its lifetime.

However it is a wonderful specimen plant to have in a large flower bed. You may have to comb its tresses each spring, as they become tangled in the winter winds and take off sections every few years or so to keep it looking good. The traditional way of ensuring good plumes was to burn the base.  If you use this method make sure that it safe to do so and try not to harm any fresh growth that may be coming up.

 Grown in full sun this wonderful plant, which originally came from Argentina, can reach up to around 2 or 3 metres if unattended, so do bear this in mind if you are thinking about having one in your garden. Its wonderful soft creamy plumes look so stunning, blowing as they do in the summer breezes, adding movement to the garden, which is all the rage at the moment. It is sometimes available with white and purple plumes and variegated leaves as well.

Take care when handing the plants as the leaves have very sharp edges that can give very nasty cuts.  Be warned and wear gloves!