Grasses - Pampas grass

Plant family

Grass family (Poaceae)

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Dry

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Plant distance

120 cm

Row spacing

120 cm

Seeding depth

0.2 cm

Instructions

Description

Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is one of the most eye-catching ornamental grasses and delights with large, white panicles of flowers in summer. The full German name for this species is actually American pampas grass, but as it is the most widespread of all the pampas grass species and the others are not available in Germany, it is usually referred to simply as pampas grass, rarely also as silver pampas grass. Like the other 14 or so species of pampas grass, it originates from the tropical and temperate zones of South America and New Zealand, where it grows on sandy and alluvial soils. It belongs to the sweet grass family (Poaceae). It is not completely hardy in our latitudes and requires winter protection. The leaves of this clump-forming grass only grow to a height of around 80 centimetres, but the flower panicles can reach heights of up to 250 centimetres. The individual leaves are gray-green, narrow, sharp-edged and winter-green. They are quite stiff, but arch over in the upper part. Pampas grass reaches its peak during its flowering period from August and then well into the winter, when the magnificent panicles of flowers, which look slightly like feather dusters, rise above the foliage. They can also be cut and make a beautiful ornamental display in tall vases and containers when dried. The best time to do this is before the flowers have fully opened. You should then dry the stems for two days in a shady spot before arranging them in the vase.

Growing tips

Location and soil