Cut the foliage back to about 30 centimeters in late winter while wearing heavy gloves.

Does it need full sun?

Yes, it performs best in a spot with full sun and well draining soil.

Plant guide

Pampas Grass.

Cortaderia selloana

Pronounced kor-tuh-DARE-ee-uh sel-loh-AH-nuh

Also known as Common Pampas Grass, Pampas, Pampas Grass, Pampas-grass, Papas Grass, Uruguayan pampas grass

Pampas grass is a tall, clumping ornamental grass known for its dramatic, feathery plumes. It creates a striking focal point in large landscapes. This plant is quite tough once it gets established.

Another photo of Pampas Grass — Photo by Caroline Voget (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial grass
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 300cm tall and 200cm wide
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 7 to 10
Bloom time: Late summer to mid autumn

Care

Plant in a spot with plenty of room to spread. Cut the foliage back to about 30cm in late winter to encourage fresh spring growth. Watch for brown, dead leaves in the center of the clump as the plant matures.

Watering: Water deeply during the first year to establish roots, then it becomes quite drought tolerant.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins.
Pruning: Cut the entire plant back to about 30cm in late winter before new growth emerges.
Repotting: It is best grown in the ground, but if kept in a container, repot when it becomes root bound.
Soil: Well draining, fertile soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -12 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 10 to 15 years
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water sitting on the surface for too long
Plant growth slowing significantly

Safety

People: The plant is not considered toxic but the leaves can cause severe mechanical injury.
Pets: The sharp, serrated leaf edges can cause physical injury to pets, though it is not chemically toxic.
Children: Keep children away from the foliage as the razor sharp edges can cause painful lacerations.
Contact allergens: The leaf margins are serrated like a saw and can cause deep cuts to skin.
Airborne allergens: The large plumes produce significant amounts of windborne pollen that may trigger hay fever.
Edibility: This plant is not edible and the foliage is extremely sharp.

How to identify it

Tall, arching, razor sharp leaf blades
Large, silky, plume like flower heads
Dense, clumping growth habit
Silvery white to pinkish flower color

Height: 2 to 3.5m
Spread: 1 to 2m
Leaves: green, blue-green, evergreen
Flowers: white, cream, pink, 30 to 90cm
Fruit: brown, Late autumn

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
Brown Leaf EdgesUncommon
Leaf ScorchUncommon
RustUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your pampas grass from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring, early autumn
Overwintering: In colder regions, tie the foliage together to protect the crown from moisture. Cut back the dead foliage in late winter before new growth begins.
In containers: It is generally too large for standard containers, but can be grown in very large tubs for a few years.

Division

1. Dig up the entire clump in spring.
2. Use a sharp spade or saw to divide the root ball into smaller sections.
3. Replant the divisions immediately in well draining soil.

Plant this grass as a focal point with lower growing perennials around the base to hide the sharp lower foliage.

Grows well with

Russian Sage · The airy blue flowers contrast beautifully with the bold plumes of the grass.
Coneflower · These perennials enjoy similar sun exposure and soil conditions.

Similar species

Ravenna Grass · It is a similar large ornamental grass that is often used as a substitute.

Science

Family: Poaceae
Genus: Cortaderia
Order: Poales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Southern South America
Conservation: It is considered an invasive species in several parts of the world, including California and New Zealand.

It thrives in open grasslands where its deep roots help it survive periods of drought.

Value to wildlife: provides nesting material, offers winter cover
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental grass, privacy screen, dried flower arrangements

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Moisture: 4/9
Salinity: 3/9
Temperature: 6/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How do I prune it?: Cut the foliage back to about 30 centimeters in late winter while wearing heavy gloves.
Does it need full sun?: Yes, it performs best in a spot with full sun and well draining soil.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Cortaderia comes from the Argentine word cortadera, meaning cutter, referring to the sharp leaves. The species name honors the German botanist Friedrich Sello.

Good to know

The plumes can reach up to 3 meters in height.
It was introduced to Europe in the 19th century as an ornamental.
The name comes from the Pampas region of South America.

Also in

Keep your pampas grass growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.