Grow Pampas Grass If You Want To Add Vertical Interest Or Screen A Garden Area
Elizabeth is a Permaculture Garden Designer, Sustainability Consultant and Professional Writer, working as an advocate for positive change. She graduated from the University of St. Andrews with an MA in English and Philosophy and obtained a Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design from the Permaculture Association.
Reviewed By ROY NICOL
Roy is a Professional Gardener and Horticultural Consultant, specialising in large garden year-round maintenance and garden development. He is an RHS Master of Horticulture and uses his research in the application of no-dig methods in ornamental garden settings. Roy has been a Professional Gardener for more than six years and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, Professional Gardener's Guild and Association of Professional Landscapers (Professional Gardener).
Cortaderia selloana, more commonly known as ‘Pampas Grass’, is a tall, proud grass boasting silvery-pink panicles (that’s the swishy bits on top).
Whether resting or swaying gently in the wind, the silver-pink palette casts a captivating aesthetic and invites the gaze, adding a subtle attractiveness to any outdoor space.
Pampas grass is a great way to bring a different tone to the green-heavy palettes and flower-heavy backdrops of British gardens.
It’s a versatile plant, equally suited to use as a border to frame an area, a screen to fence off an area, an element to add vertical interest to a flower bed or as a stand-alone focal point to draw the eye in a certain direction in a design scheme.
Overview
| Botanical Name | Cortaderia selloana |
| Common Name(s) | Pampas Grass |
| Plant Type | Perennial |
| Native Area | South America |
| Hardiness Rating | H6 |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Flowers | Silver white spikes, sometimes with pink or purple tinge |
| When To Sow | March, April, May |
| Flowering Months | July, August, September, October |
Sunlight
Preferred
Full Sun
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Size
Height
2.5 – 4M
Spread
1.5 – 2.5M
Bloom Time
Summer – Autumn
Soil
Preferred
Most Soil Types
Moisture
Moist but well drained
pH
Any
Pampas grass is part of the family Poaceae, which contains all types of grass, from bamboo to the ubiquitous green blades you see in gardens and parks up and down the UK.1Cortaderia selloana (Pampas Grass, Uruguayan pampas grass). (n.d.). North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cortaderia-selloana/
This plant is so iconic that an entire region of South America is named after it – the Pampas (or ‘La Pampa’) is a vast, flat area of grassy plains spanning a large section of Central Argentina.2The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998h, July 20). The Pampas. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/place/the-Pampas
The panicles and grass combine to provide a visually interesting colour palette, and the plant’s height and confidence make it a fantastic vertical contribution to beds and garden areas.
It’s a great way to bring something a little different to your garden, and it’s very easy to grow!
How To Grow Pampas Grass
This is an enthusiastic grower, and will get big quickly!
It’s also considered an invasive species in some areas of the world, raising the interesting question of what differentiates a problematic plant from an acceptable one.3Pennisi, SV. (2009, December 16). Pampas Grass. UGA Cooperative Extension. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C983
Make sure you’re ready for the rate and spread of pampas’ growth, and that you’ve got a suitable area of garden set aside.
Hardiness
Pampas grass is hardy enough to survive whatever the weather conditions in the UK throw at it.
The plant has an RHS hardiness rating of H6, meaning it can make do with temperatures down to -20°C.
Where To Grow
This plant likes full sun best, although it will make do with partial shade.
If you choose to grow pampas in shade, the eventual height of the plant will be shorter.
Grasses with too little sun exposure may also fail to flower, so make sure you find a spot that aligns with your eventual plans for the plant.
Pick a spot with moist soil and good drainage.
The grass is resilient to wind, drought, and other elemental hassles that may discourage other plants: one of the reasons it makes such great borders.
Pampas grass isn’t fussy in terms of soil composition or acidity, so you don’t need to worry too much about soil type.
Planting
For best results, plant pampas grass in spring.
This gives it more than enough lead time to establish itself, and build the required strength for future years and seasons.
Pampas grass is a real treat to plant, because it’s so easy – all you need to do is sprinkle seeds over freshly-raked soil, water gently, then leave them to get on with it.
The water and gentle spring sunlight provide perfect conditions for germination, and you’ll see growth quickly.
When grown from seed, Pampas grass will take 2-3 years to flower, so if you would like to see these striking plumes earlier, I would advise purchasing a 5L potted plant.
If your garden is popular with birds, you may need to cover your pampas seeds with light netting.
Something to prevent inquisitive beaks from playing havoc, but which lets light through and leaves enough space for fledgling growth.
Ongoing Pampas Care
Fertilising
Pampas grass doesn’t need much in the way of fertiliser, but giving the plant a dose in spring, summer, and autumn of the first year will help it to reach full strength.
Watering
Unless you’re living through particularly severe drought conditions, pampas grass won’t need watering, although it’s best to water while the plant is establishing for the best start.
This plant hails from arid regions and is perfectly fine to be left to its own devices once established.
Relocating & Propagating
You can move established pampas grass by carefully uprooting it, then transplanting it into a hole just bigger than the root ball.
Teasing the root ball gently apart and watering the soil gently after covering over will both help the transplanted grass to take better, and reduce the risk of trauma.
To propagate, simply replant a clump cut from an established plant.
Female cuttings will take root and re-establish themselves (you can tell female plants by the more vibrant and showy plumes).
Overwintering
To boost your plant’s resilience during the winter, you can mulch the base of the plant and cover this with cardboard, netting, or similar.
This will insulate the roots and reduce the impact of cold.
As we said earlier the plant can survive even the coldest UK temperatures, but a little extra help never goes amiss.
Common Problems
As a non-native species, pampas isn’t a natural part of the diet of UK-native wildlife that might typically be considered as ‘pests’.
This means it’s unlikely to be bothered when growing in your garden.
Insects do tend to take up residence in these plants, so if you’re propagating, inspect carefully for bugs or their nests.
Whether you choose pampas grass for its colour palette, its striking height, or the fact that it’s so easy to grow, this plant is guaranteed to deliver.
It’s visually interesting and versatile enough to function in many areas of your garden, making it the perfect choice for gardeners of all levels.
