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Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloana
Pampas Grass blooms from August through October.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Pampas Grass
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. It is hardy in USDA zones 7–11. Expect it to reach about 8.2 ft tall and 4.9 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 3 years.
When to plant Pampas Grass
Plant Pampas Grass in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 7 to 11 range, spring means February to April and fall means September or October. Once settled, it blooms from August to October.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 8 in February.
Comes in 3 varieties across 2 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Pampas Grass
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
The showy fluffy plumes come only from female plants, so nurseries sold female stock, and each female plume can throw up to about 100,000 wind-borne seeds. per NC State and Cal-IPC
Cold hardiness varies by source
NC State lists zones 6a to 10b; Missouri Botanical Garden gives 8 to 10. The straight green species is hardier; variegated cultivars less so. per NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden
Leaf blades cut skin
The narrow leaf blades have fine, sharp, saw-toothed edges that cut skin. Cortaderia means 'cutter'. Wear gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection when handling it. per NC State
Invasive; check local lists
A serious invasive in California, Hawaii, the Southeast, and abroad, forming dense stands that crowd out natives. Cal-IPC rates it 'High'. Check your local noxious-weed list first. per Cal-IPC
Cut back in late winter
As a warm-season grass, cut the whole clump to roughly 15 to 45 cm in late winter before new growth starts. Wear gloves and eye protection. per Clemson
Deer resistant
Highly resistant to deer: they avoid the tough, sharp-edged foliage. per NC State
What pairs well with Pampas Grass
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Gazania
Shares full sun and low water; low at 10 in, to carpet the ground beneath; opens in early summer and overlaps into this one's season; a soft color beside the yellow.
Bachelor's Button
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; lower at 2.3 ft, for the front of the border; a soft color beside the yellow.
Aloe
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; low at 1.3 ft, to carpet the ground beneath; a soft color beside the yellow.
California Poppy
Shares full sun and low water; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; low at 12 in, to carpet the ground beneath; a soft color beside the yellow.
Butterfly Weed
Shares full sun and low water; opens in early summer and overlaps into this one's season; lower at 2 ft, for the front of the border; a soft color beside the yellow.
Candytuft
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; low at 10 in, to carpet the ground beneath; its white flowers settle the yellow.
Oregano
Shares full sun and low water; opens in early summer and overlaps into this one's season; low at 1.3 ft, to carpet the ground beneath; a soft color beside the yellow.
Grape Hyacinth
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; low at 8 in, to carpet the ground beneath; a soft color beside the yellow; they only overlap in zones 7 to 8.
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