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How long does it take for pampas grass to grow


A Guide for Flower Growers

Sep 3

How to Grow Pampas Grass: A Guide for Flower Growers

Team Flower

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If you’re a cut flower grower or flower farmer, you’ve probably already noticed the growing popularity of using pampas grass in floral design and home decor. Are you wondering how to grow pampas grass, harvest it, and make money off it? If so, you’ve found the right resource!

(And if you’re a home gardener or flower fan who’s found your way here—welcome! You’re in good company. There’s great stuff in this article for home gardeners, too!)

Pampas grass wedding floral design and event decor has found its way all over Pinterest—and rightly so! (1)

You’ll find the following in this article:

Should You Grow Pampas Grass (If You Can)?

Pampas grass has found its way all over Pinterest in wedding floral design and event decor, but it’s also popping up in everyday bouquets and home decor.  

If you’re a cut flower grower (or even a micro flower farmer!), you might be wondering if you can get in on the pampas grass trend and earn additional revenue off this popular ornamental grass.

How can you provide this easy-to-grow popular cut plume to your market—and as soon as possible? 

This grass can be challenging for floral designers to easily source due to its popularity. If you have the growing space (and even the drying and storage space) for this sought-after ornamental grass, you could earn additional revenue for your floral business. 

“This grass can be challenging for floral designers to source due to its popularity.”

And if you’re a home gardener who has a ton of it, you may be able to earn a little extra gardening money in the late summer and fall by getting in contact with floral designers in your area ahead of the pampas-grass blooming season. 

But growing pampas grass isn’t for everyone—and only you know what’s best for your farm, garden, and your local market. Let’s dive into a quick list of some of the pros and cons!

Curious about growing flowers for market? Love to grow flowers but want to earn money doing so? Check out our online flower growing classes to learn how to make money growing and selling flowers.

Pros to Growing and Selling Pampas Grass

There are benefits to growing pampas grass to sell at market—let’s look into some of the pros below!

Cons to Growing and Selling Pampas Grass

Growing pampas grass isn’t for every farmer or gardener. Below are some cons that you’ll need to think through before diving in.

Again, only you know what’s right for your farm or garden! 

Growing pampas grass in bulk may be best for those who have significant growing space. That way, the plant is cultivated away from other flower farming endeavors, having plenty of wiggle room to grow and reducing seed distribution in other growing spaces.

But if you know that growing this beloved ornamental is right for you, let’s move into some growing tips!

Pampas grass and dried florals stand out against a bright green backdrop. (2)

How to Grow Pampas Grass

Pampas grass is easy to grow, but you’ll need to be strategic about where you plant it. While some varieties do well in containers (especially the dwarf varieties), you’ll need to plan out your growing space ahead of time if you’re growing the full-size plant in bulk for cut flower use. 

Quick facts about growing pampas:

“Remember: Pampas grass is easy to grow, but be strategic about where you plant it. It needs lots of room!”

Growing pampas grass from seed

Growing pampas grass from seed is simple, straightforward, and cost-effective, but it does take some patience. 

Remember, if you start pampas grass from seed, you won’t have the fluffy plumes for 2 to 3 years.

  1. Sow your pampas grass seeds in your growing medium in flats or trays.

  2. Leave the seeds on the surface of your growing medium—don’t press them down into the soil or bury them.

  3. Keep your tray of seeds moist—but not wet—and in a warm area (no less than 65 degrees F).  

  4. Pampas grass seeds need consistent light to germinate, so ensure your seeds are getting at least 6-8 hours of light a day. 

  5. Once the seeds sprout, you may need to transplant them individually into small containers until they mature further.

  6. Once any risk of frost is over and the seedlings themselves are slightly grassy or bushy with some solid root development, you can move them into your garden or growing space, keeping the 6–14 feet spacing between plants in mind. 

If you prefer to get growing right away, you can purchase more mature pampas grass plants for sale in one-gallon and three-gallon containers from many plant retailers and garden centers. These can be more expensive to start with; however, they may shorten your wait time for those beautiful pampas plumes. 

Caring for pampas grass

“Each year, pampas should be pruned and cut back close to the ground to encourage new, healthy growth. ”

Pampas grass care is simple: Each year, it should be pruned and cut back close to the ground to encourage new, healthy growth. Leave several inches of length behind, so your pampas grass plant looks like a little shrub that received a buzz cut!

Pruning should take place in late winter or early spring—and prune with care using the right tools and safety gear, as the blades of grass are sharp and can be prickly. Some gardeners even recommend a chainsaw for pruning due to the heartiness and thickness of the plant (3).

Harvesting Pampas Grass: Drying, Storing, and Selling

Pampas grass blooms in late summer and early fall. Depending on your growing zone and season, pampas grass may bloom (or maintain its blooms if not cut) throughout the winter.

To harvest pampas, simply snip the stalk of the plumes at your desired stem length. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind before harvesting the plumes:

If you plan on drying pampas grass plumes and storing them until they’re purchased or shipped, ensure you have a warm, dry place to dry. Spritzing the plumes with a light coat of cheap hairspray as needed during the drying process will keep them intact and help with preservation.  

If you’re storing dried pampas for some time before fulfilling orders or using in design work, Team Flower Member Jennifer Parker recommends storing dried pampas grass in large garbage bags to keep it contained, minimizing the shedding mess. Simply fluff before shipping or taking to market and include instructions for the receiver on continued careful preservation.

Where to Sell Pampas Grass

If you’re growing and harvesting pampas grass to sell, there are several ways to get your cut pampas plumes to customers.

You can connect with Slow Flowers to join the site directory to be found by floral professionals and consumers looking for local flower growers.

You also can join the Team Flower Community (that’s us!) to be included in the directory. Many of our community members are looking for regular pampas grass wholesale resources!

“Consider allowing others to carefully forage the grass from your property at a pay per stem rate. ”

You could also consider allowing floral designers, interior designers, and even pampas grass home decor lovers in your area to forage the grass at a pay per stem rate. (However, just make sure you have the proper insurance on your property in place and that everyone is wearing the appropriate safety gear, taking safety precautions, and using the correct harvesting equipment.)

You could also sell your fresh-harvested or dried pampas grass in places such as:

Check out our Growing and Selling Flowers for Market online class to equip yourself to sell your floral products confidently to your community!

Beautiful Substitutions for Pampas Grass

Despite pampas grass being easy to grow and requiring minimal care, perhaps you’ve decided it’s not the right choice for your flower farm or garden space. But how can you take advantage of the fluffy, fun, and striking ornamental grass trend?

“Consider adding other ornamental grasses or plants to your growing operations!”

If growing pampas grass isn’t for you, you may want to consider adding other ornamental grasses or plants to your growing operations that provide a similar visual impact in floral designs and home decor.

While there is no alternative to pampas grass that is truly interchangeable (it’s in a league of its own!), some ideas are included below. 

Finding a substitution for pampas grass can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. (3)

In addition, some dried and bleached cut palms and ferns can offer a similar look and may be a well-received offering by your cut flower customers. This can be a great product to provide your clients if you have the space and operations to dry, bleach, and store cut botanicals.

For a more extensive list of pampas grass substitutes—including design and storage tips—read Where to Buy Pampas Grass Wholesale + Practical Design Tips for Floral Pros.

Is Growing Pampas Grass for You?

If you’re already growing cut flowers and are wondering if you should add pampas grass to your offerings, it can be easy to start doing so. 

Currently, pampas grass is in high demand for weddings and events and in the floral design and home decor industries, so it’s a great time to start growing.

“Pampas grass is in high demand for weddings, events, and in the floral design and home decor industries.”

Just make sure you have suitable space and growing conditions before you begin! (And the patience to wait for those sought-after, fluffy plumes!)

Do you have a pampas grass growing tip or correction to this guide that you’d like to share? Contact us via the red chat button on the bottom right! We love hearing from our readers.

Photography Credit: Design by The Flora Club

Team Flower

Our mission is to connect and empower flower lovers with lifelong, global community support and education to help them love the world through flowers.

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Where to Buy Pampas Grass Wholesale + Practical Design Tips for Floral Pros

16 Easy Tips to Successfully Grow Pampas Grass

Few plants create such a striking presence as the mighty pampas grass.

Reaching anywhere between five and fifteen feet depending on the climate, the towering ornamental pampas grass adds an arresting, dramatic beauty to any landscape and is often used to provide an organic alternative to fences and walls as a garden border.

Yet that’s not the only reason that so many people have been successfully growing pampas grass on their properties.

Along with its unmistakable, distinctive appearance, Pampas Grass (Cortaderia Selloana) is incredibly easy to grow.

Below, we’ll reveal just how easy it is with sixteen quick and simple tips to help you add pampas’ fluffy, feathery plumes to your outdoor space, but before we do, a quick word of warning:

Unlike some plants which require very little maintenance, pampas grass requires a lot of work to take care of. It is an invasive plant that spreads rampantly and can be so difficult to contain that pampas grass is actually outlawed in places like Hawaii, California, and Australia.

Convinced that you’ve got the time and energy to invest in growing pampas grass, this remarkable plant?

Then let’s dive into everything you need to know to safely and successfully make pampas grass a part of your garden.

1: Be Prepared for a Long-Term Commitment


Pampas grass requires regular yearly maintenance and grass pampas is very hard to get rid of once planted, so the decision to grow pampas grass isn’t one that should be taken lightly.

While it’s certainly true that pampas grass can make a beautiful addition to your garden, the decision to plant grass pampas isn’t one you should take lightly.

If you’re determined to sew those seeds, be prepared to have pampas grass as a prominent feature of your garden for many years ahead.

If you grow grass pampas and then decide six months later that you don’t like the look of it, you’ll find it incredibly difficult -if not impossible- to get rid of and may end up with a life-long battle with this notoriously persistent plant ahead of you.

In making your decision, there’s another important question you need to ask yourself:

Are you prepared for all the work you’ll need to do year in, year out in keeping your pampas grass under control?

If you neglect it, it will soon run rampant across your garden, overwhelming your other plants and destroying the beautiful aesthetic you’ve worked so hard to create.

In other words, your relationship with your pampas grass will not be fleeting. It’s a long-term commitment that certainly shouldn’t be taken lightly.

2: Understand the Difference Between Selloana and Jubata


Tall and sharp, pampas grass Cortaderia Jubata combines all of the drawbacks of growing pampas grass with none of the benefits and should be avoided at all costs.

There’s another reason to be very careful when deciding to grow pampas grass:

Picking the wrong type can spell disaster.

Like all plants, pampas grass can be found in different cultivars, and one, in particular, is well known as the worst of the worst.

Pampas grass Cortaderia jubata is a sharp, dun-colored weed which, rather than adding that sense of dramatic beauty, leaves your garden looking overrun, neglected and ugly.

Each plume produces up to 100,000 seeds that can spread over distances as far as 20-miles, making jubata practically impossible to manage and earning it a top ranking on the California Invasive Plant Council’s list of the most notorious weeds.

If you do come across jubata grass seeds in a nursery, avoid them at all costs and opt instead for pampas grass Cortaderia selloana.

Though still technically an invasive species, pampas grass can be controlled with some effort and is the one variety that offers those gorgeously fluffy plumes and handsome charm.

3: Choose Colors to Match Your Garden Design


Though typically known for its soft, creamy flowers, pampas grass also grows in a gorgeous silver-pink color.

It’s no secret pampas grass is famous for its white plumes, but you should know that pampas grass can also be grown in a gentle pink color, creating a unique look to your space.

With that in mind, consider whether you want the pink variety to add a dash of color or the famously fluffy white pampas grass plumes that add that wild and windswept look.

4: Give Your Grass Plenty of Room

If you’re planning to grow multiple pampas grass plants, then a small garden really isn’t the place to do it.

Because pampas grass grows so abundantly, it’s best to plant each one roughly six to eight feet apart from one another to give it plenty of room to grow properly.

When pampas grass is planted too close together, it tends to grow in a knotted mess that serves as an ugly blight in your otherwise gorgeous garden.

5: Plant Your Pampas Grass in the Sunniest Part of Your garden


Pampas grass grows best when it receives lots of direct sunlight.

Pampas grass is an incredibly tough plant that adapts well to most environments, but it definitely prefers bright, sunny spots.

As such, experts recommend that you choose a spot in your garden that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.

Sure, your plant will still grow in partial shade, but pampas grass won’t grow as well and will become more susceptible to disease.

So, as a general rule, the more sunlight your grass gets, the better.

6: Plant Your Grass Away from Fire and Neighbours Gardens

Finding a sunny spot will certainly benefit your grass, but there are other important factors that you’ll also need to consider when it comes to choosing the right location for your new pampas grass.

This is a highly flammable plant we’re dealing with, so growing it in an area where you also keep your grill, barbeque or firepit is ill-advised.

Likewise, keep in mind that if your pampas grass does set alight, the fire will spread pretty quickly, so it’s best to keep it away from structures such as bird tables and patio furniture that could also catch fire.

On a different note, consider the self-sewing nature of pampas grass. Wind can carry pampas grass seeds for miles and they’ll grow -or at least attempt to grow- wherever they land.

As such, reduce the risk of your neighbors’ gardens becoming overrun with pampas grass by growing it as far away from them as possible.

7: Plant Seeds in the Spring for Best Results

Pampas grass thrives in warmer climates and does best in the United States Department of Agriculture’s plant hardiness zones seven to eleven.

With that in mind, you’ll find that early spring is the best time to plant pampas grass seeds in a garden.

As the temperature rises, the grass begins to flourish, producing those tall, 10 – 13ft plumes within a few months so that you can enjoy the full effect of your ornamental grass by the summer.

Before then, you can add preparing the seedlings onto your list of gardening tasks for the winter months.

Potting the seeds in your greenhouse gives them ample opportunity to germinate and develop into hardy seedlings which will produce better results once transferred to your garden.

8: Pampas Grass Prefers Well-draining Soil


Getting the right kind of soil is vital to successfully growing pampas grass. Chose a well-draining option for best results.

It may sound obvious to some, but so many inexperienced gardeners underestimate what a big difference the right kind of soil can make to the long-term health of plants.

Some plants flourish in different types of soil than others so, while you may be able to get away with planting your pampas grass in whatever ground you happen to have in your garden, you’ll have a better chance of success if you prepare the ground properly first.

Pampas grass prefers well-drained, fertile soil like Burpee’s Natural Organic Premium Growing Mix, though it’s certainly possible to add other ingredients to your existing soil to create a fertile ground in which your grass to grow.

With damp, heavy soil, try adding some lightweight compost mix. If you have dry, thin soil in your garden, mix it with plenty of substantially rotted organic matter such as bark mulch.

9: Use Quartz Sand to Prevent Water-Logging

Another excellent ingredient to consider adding to your soil is quartz sand.

We prefer the natural, chemical-free sand from FairmountSantrol, though any natural quartz sand will suffice.

If you live in a region that receives a lot of rainfall, this inexpensive mineral will prove invaluable in preventing water-logging which would otherwise damage your pampas grass.

10: Water Immediately After Planting


Use a hose to spray your grass with plenty of water immediately after growing.

There are some types of plants that require almost no watering once planted in the soil. Pampas grass is not one of them.

Once the seeds have been sewn, reach for your hose pipe and water deeply straight away.

Though you won’t have to water your plant often, giving it plenty of water to begin with will certainly aid growth.

11: Cut Back on Watering as Your Plant Grows

Pampas grass is incredibly drought-resistant. As such, some gardeners will tell you that there’s no need to ever go near it again with that hose pipe after the initial watering.

Offering a counter-argument, others insist that it is best to water your grass every few weeks for the first few months to ensure that the soil is evenly moist.

Once your plant fully establishes itself and starts to take off, you put that hose away and let the natural rainfall give your grass all the moisture it needs.

In cases of extended periods of severe drought, feel free to go back to watering so that your grass remains healthy.

12: Create a Plan for Managing Your Pampas Grass Growth


Though it may be beautiful, pampas grass requires a lot of work, so create a workable plan to maintain it.

Just in case we hadn’t hammered this point home enough, here it is again:

Pampas grass takes a lot of work to manage.

With that in mind, it pays to think ahead about how you’ll take care of your grass once it starts to take over your garden.

Mark out time in your gardening calendar to trim the grass back and prevent it from getting too out of control.

Should your grass grow in abundance, you may find it helpful to recruit a friend to help you with the trimming and pruning process.

13: Prune Every Year to Keep Grass Under Control

Pampas grass grows rapidly and excessively so, when it comes to maintenance, a quick five minutes with your favorite pair of hand shears isn’t going to cut it.

Instead, break out a pair of good-quality hedge shears and cut the plant grass down all the way to the ground.

In our experience, mid-February to late-March is usually the best time to do this, but there’s no reason why you have to leave it until then if your grass is clearly getting beyond control.

Technically, it is possible to burn the plant all the way down to the ground, but given how flammable it is, this is only recommended if you’re certain you can keep the fire contained.

14: Take Extra Care When Pruning

On a similar, safety-related note, beware that the grass has sharp foliage which can cause some pretty nasty cuts and scrapes.

When it’s time to prune, keep your skin protected by a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of thick gardening gloves.

15: Propagate in Late-Winter/Early Spring

After around five years, the center of the pampas grass begins to slowly die out, resulting in minimal new growth and plenty of ugly, dried out leaves.

To keep it fresh and alive, the grass can be propagated as early as September, though you’ll get better results if you wait until the early part of the following year as the end of winter transitions into the start of spring.

A period after the last forecasted frost but before new plants start to grow is the optimum time to ensure that your grass has an entire season to recover from propagation and re-establish its roots.

To propagate, cut the grass all the way back so that you can see the base.

You’ll see that the central clump of pampas grass will be dying out (or may already be dead), but that it will be surrounded by baby shoots which are still healthy.

Using a sharp spade, cut into the clump to separate these healthy shoots from the dead clump, then discard the clump.

Replant the younger growth at the same depth that they were at when they were attached to the main plant.

Then, just as if you were growing pampas grass for the first time, feed it a decent amount of water and continue to ensure that the soil is evenly moist until the new plant is established.

Typically, only female plants are propagated. They produce broad and full plumes, and lots of seeds. Space the plants about 6 to 8 feet apart as you grow them.

15: Combine With Other Grasses and Shrubs for a Stunning Garden Design


Red Twig Dogwood like this makes a perfect companion plant to pampas grass.

We all know how striking pampas grass looks on its own, but its aesthetic qualities can be greatly enhanced by mixing it with other ornamental grasses and shrubs.

The contrast between the soft, gentle whites of pampas grass and the bold colors of Red Twig Dogwood, for example, can create some truly eye-catching results.

Other recommended companion plants for pampas grass include Tall Verbena, Autumn Joy, Fountain Grass, and Forest Pansy.

Pampas Grass Frequently Asked Questions


Pampas grass like this can grow to over 10 ft in height, usually taking between 2 – 4 years to reach full maturity.

How Fast Does Pampas Grass Grow?

Cortaderia selloana does not take long to grow. From seed, the plant reaches full maturity within two to four years and generally lasts for around fifteen years.

A perennial, pampas grass germinates during the spring months and produces bulbs within the first year. Once winter comes, the plant tends to become dormant before starting to grow again the following spring.

After just one growing season, the center clump will begin to die, but the plant itself will expand as younger, healthy shoots emerge.

It’s at this point that you should consider propagating your plant to keep it healthy and promote growth.

How Tall Does Pampas Grass Grow?

Pampas grass is renowned for its height, though how tall it actually grows will depend largely on its environment.

At a minimum, expect your grass to grow to around five feet tall, though it’s much more likely that, at full maturity, it will reach somewhere between 10 and 15 feet.

Is Pampas Grass Toxic?

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states that Cortaderia selloana is non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, but what about humans?

Research shows that pampas grass is relatively harmless, though most experts do warn that ingesting any plant can potentially lead to adverse effects such as allergic reactions.

So, while it’s a safe plant for gardener owners with children or animals, it’s still wise to ensure that children especially understand that your pampas grass aren’t a snack.

Does Pampas Grass Need Fertilizer?

Pampas grass doesn’t require fertilizer and grows perfectly well without it. However, some gardeners choose to use a balanced fertilizer like Grow More’s All-Season’s Plant Food to encourage regrowth after pruning.

How Can I Get Rid of Pampas Grass?

Killing pampas grass once and for all takes some work, but it can be done.

The easiest method is to use a post-emergent herbicide. The popular Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate Plus from Roundup is particularly effective, though any brand you can find that contains Glyphosate and Haloxyfop will do the trick.

Before applying the herbicide, you’ll need to trim your grass right back. Again, be sure to wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and gloves to prevent nasty cuts, then use a pair of heavy-duty shears or, better yet, a good quality weed eater, and hack the grass right down to the route.

This has two benefits:

1: It allows you to use less herbicide, which is better for the environment.

2: When the grass is cut, it begins absorbing nutrients from the ground in order to regrow. This increases the amount of herbicide it will absorb.

Once cut, follow the instructions on the bottle to ensure you have the right water-to-chemical ratio and apply it.

Larger plants will likely take two or three applications before they properly die.

Once done, you can either leave the grass where it is to rot, or pull it up and dispose of it.

What are Some Non-Chemical Alternatives to Killing Pampas Grass?


Digging up the roots can be a natural way to remove pampas grass without using chemicals.

If you don’t like the idea of using herbicides, there are some natural methods of pampas grass control that you can use.

Tarp

One simple yet time-consuming method is to use a tarp. Cut the plant down to the ground then cover it up with a thick tarp. This prevents any light or moisture from getting to the plant, meaning it will eventually wither and die.

Be warned though, this is not a quick-fix method. It will likely take weeks, perhaps even months, before your grass actually dies.

Salt

Cortaderia selloana is fairly resistant to salt, but if you apply enough of it, say between five and ten pounds, then it will kill off your plant.

Digging

Some people recommend burning as a quick and easy method of removing pampas grass, but there’s one problem with that:

The burning only encourages future growth, and your grass will be back, taller than stronger than ever, the following year.

Instead, a much more thorough, though labor-intensive, method is to break out your shovel and dig out all those roots. It’s hard work, but it guarantees that your grass will be gone once and for all.

Pampas Grass: Is the Effort Worth it?

As you can see, getting rid of pampas grass isn’t exactly an effortless undertaking. So, if you do decide to plant it, you really only have two choices:

1: Be in it for the long-haul and have pampas grass growing in your garden for years to come

2: Put in some serious work to get rid of it and risk damaging your garden.

After all, if you decide to kill off your plant using herbicide then you run the risk that the chemicals will spread to other plants that you want to keep and ultimately kill them off as well. If you go the natural route and use salt, then that salt can stay in the ground even after you’ve removed the pampas roots and make the soil unsuitable for planting anything else in the future.

With that in mind, taking care of the annual pruning process, though still hard work, is generally the easier option.

But is it worth it?

In our estimation, yes, absolutely.

Despite the hard work involved, no other type of ornamental grass creates the same sense of dramatic beauty as pampas grass. With tall, feathery plumes blowing gently in the breeze, Cortaderia selloana really does make a splendid addition to any garden, especially when used as a border or to add form to a larger space.

With their fluffy, cream or silver-pink flowers standing tall, pampas grass makes a striking addition to any garden 

Pampas grass - features of planting, care, wintering

Cortaderia, or pampas grass, looks great at their summer cottage. But for some reason, few grow it. Let's take a closer look at this powerful and at the same time graceful plant.

Pampas grass is a perennial plant of the Cereal family, which is able to form large and dense sods up to 3 m in height and width. In the wild, this herb grows in the pampas of South America and is considered a weed.

The elongated, pointed leaves of the plant hang down under their own weight and thus give the bush a rounded appearance. Pampas grass blooms from August until frost with branched flower panicles of silver, pink or yellow color.

When buying seedlings, pay attention to which cortaderia you are offered. Female plants do not lose their decorative effect even during the rains. Men's with the advent of autumn grow dim.

In winter, pampas grass will perfectly decorate an apartment if its panicles are dried and placed in a vase

Planting pampas grass

Pampas grass can be planted in spring from the end of March. The sooner you plant a plant, the sooner it will take root by the start of the growing season.

The planting hole for pampas grass should be wider than the root system of the plant. Before planting, drainage (gravel, pebbles, broken brick or sand) should be poured into the bottom of the pit, and several buckets of compost should be placed on top of it. Too deepen the bush is not worth it, otherwise the plant may begin to rot.

When planting several plants, keep a distance of 1.5-2 m between them.

Pampas grass is watered into a hole made around the plant. Cortaderia especially needs watering in the summer months, because that's when the growth of green mass occurs.

Pampas grass loves bright light. But, when choosing a place for a plant, give preference to areas closed from the wind.

Cortaderia looks good both on the lawn and in the flower bed. Its fluffy panicle inflorescences perfectly decorate the empty spaces of the site. This grass is also planted near stone buildings. This placement has a significant advantage: the stones give off their heat and contribute to the good growth of the cortaderia.

Near high thickets of pampas grass, a recreation area is often organized: sunbeds and garden benches are placed. Yes, and there will be a lot of trouble with the stratification of seeds, so it's easier to buy seedlings.

Pampas Grass Care

Cortaderia is hardy and can withstand both drought and high humidity. The main care of the plant is systematic watering. And it should be remembered: the larger the plant, the more moisture it needs. On average, one cortaderia bush needs 1-2 buckets of water every 2-3 days.

Annual (early spring) top dressing with complex mineral fertilizer is also important. During the growing season, once every two weeks, you can feed the plant with Azofoska's solution.

Faded inflorescences of cortaderia retain their decorative effect for a long time, so it is better to cut them in spring. At the same time, you need to cut off dead leaves.

Overwintering pampas grass

There is an opinion that pampas grass does not tolerate cold well. This is not entirely true. It's all about the high humidity of the air and soil. Shelter made of dry grass and leaves, which should be stocked in advance, will help the plant to overwinter.

In November, trim the bush to 30-40 cm or tie the leaves with twine to drain the water. This will make winter easier. After that, sprinkle dry foliage and grass on the soil around the stems with a layer of 40 cm. When grown in the northern regions, additionally cover the pampas grass from above with a film or a warm cloth. Under such shelter, the plant will safely overwinter, even if the temperature drops to -25 ° C.

Popular varieties of Cortaderia

Variety Description

Andes Silver

Plant height - 2 m, inflorescences - silvery-white.

The variety is relatively cold-resistant, but in the northern regions the plant needs good shelter.

Monstrosa

Grows up to 2 m high.

Leaves - gray-green, inflorescences - large, snow-white color.

Patagonia

Relatively cold-resistant plant about 2 m high.

Leaves are gray-green, inflorescences are silver-white.

Pumila

One of the most cold-resistant varieties.

Plant height is approximately 1.2 m.

Leaves - gray-green, inflorescences - white.

Pink Feather

A plant with gray-green leaves and bright pink panicle inflorescences.

Rosea

Height - up to 2 m.

Inflorescences - silver-white with a delicate pink tint.

Sunningdale Silver

Plant up to 2.3 m high with silver-white paniculate inflorescences.

This unusual plant has a place in any garden style. Pampas grass goes well with other cereal crops, and looks good as a "soloist" of a flower garden.

planting and care, propagation by seeds

Hello, my readers! If you do not know what plant to decorate the front garden with, do not despair. A universal and original solution would be pampas grass, planting and caring for this herbal crop is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance.

In addition, this ornamental grass does not belong to the capricious varieties of plants. Absolutely any soil is suitable for its cultivation, and any novice gardener can do this process.

Contents

  1. Description of the plant
  2. How to grow pampas grass from seeds
  3. How to care for cortaderia

Description of the plant

Cortaderia belongs to the herbal representative of the plant world, the official name of Cortaderia. Pampas grass seeds were brought to Europe from Latin America. Luxurious appearance, even a little pretentious, runs counter to the general unpretentiousness.

Wanting to breed cortaderia on your site, it is not at all necessary to take into account the many factors that play an important role in the cultivation of other botanical crops. Basically, in order for this plant to feel comfortable, it does not matter at all what the lighting, planting depth or groundwater will be.

Among over 20 cultivars, the pink and silver varieties of pampas grass have long earned the love of landscapers. Without requiring special conditions for adaptation, such a plant lives well even during periods of prolonged drought. Ideal for central Russia, so often this plant can be found in the suburbs.

Meanwhile, if you put maximum care and effort into caring for such grass, it will become not just an addition to a flower bed, but also its full-fledged decorating element.

The description of this cereal perennial does not fall under the characteristics of any plant familiar to us. In height, pampas grass can easily reach three meters, having straight long stems. At their ends are located unique inflorescences, collected in a kind of panicles. They resemble many spikelets, painted in a silvery shade and forming the appearance of a white plume.

Thin, lanceolate leaves grow near the ground. Due to their abundance, cortaderia can easily be mistaken for some fluffy bush. Such ornamental grass grows with ease, turning into entire pampas plantations.

How to Grow Pampas Grass from Seed

Considering the culture's indifference to soil acidity, it grows easily even on rocks and in clay soil. At the same time, direct sunlight affects the size of the emerging bush.

To sow cortaderia seeds, you need to prepare in advance for this procedure. Numerous reviews of professionals talk about when it is better to plant a plant. The best time for this is mid-spring.

As soon as the frosts recede, it is time for sowing. Despite excellent germination, it is advisable to pre-treat the seeds with a weak manganese solution.

Propagation by seeds of pampas grass in general will not take a lot of time. After placing the seeds in a container with a substrate, you should cover the container and place it in a warm place. After a couple of weeks, it will be fashionable to see the first sprouts, which will soon need to be sent to an open area. Thus, you can get an excellent result in the form of a unique decorative culture.

How to take care of cortaderia

As already mentioned, pampas grass easily copes with the lack of moisture. It owes this advantage to a particularly deep root system. Penetrating into the lower layers of the soil, the plant reaches the groundwater, which provides itself with stable moisture. Abundant watering, of course, will benefit him, but even in conditions of almost complete absence of moisture, the culture will not disappear.

However, it is worth noting the weak winter hardiness of pampas grass. It must be prepared for severe frosts. The space around the bushes is fenced with a net and filled with straw and hay. Therefore, mainly cortaderia is grown in the southern regions with a predominantly mild climate. Often, many gardeners resort to growing plants in large flowerpots, so that with the onset of cold weather they can be moved indoors, and with the advent of the warm season, put them outside again.

Properly cared for, pampas grass is virtually immune to insect pests and fungal diseases. To give the plant an aesthetic appearance, it is necessary to occasionally cut the bush. It is important to be careful and wear protective gloves, as sharp leaves can injure yourself.

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