Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloana
NEMBA category
English: Pampas Grass, Silver Pampas
Afrikaans: Pampasgras, Silwergras
This plant is very similar to the Purple Pampas Grass and is easily confused. This is an extremely vigorous, tussock grass forming dense stands up to 3.5 metres in diameter with flowering stalks up to 4 metres high. The bluish-green leaves have rough margins that cut skin easily. Silvery-white to pink or mauve, feathery inflorescences appear from February to April. This grass invades river banks and seasonally wet habitats.
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Origins: South America (southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina)
Overall Appearance:
A tall, perennial, tussock-forming grass with a fountain-like shape. Height: Up to 4 meters (13 feet) Width: Up to 3 meters (10 feet)
Leaves:
Long, narrow, and stiff, with silvery-white margins. They can be up to 2 meters (6.6 feet) long.
Flowers:
Dense, silvery-white or pinkish plumes that appear in late summer and autumn.
Flowering Season:
September to December
Fruits:
Small, dry fruits containing single seeds.
Seeds:
Numerous, light, and easily dispersed by wind.
Soil Type:
Prefers well-drained soils but can tolerate a range of soil types.
Aspect:
Full sun
Uses:
Ornamental plant (historically)
Erosion control (but often ineffective and can exacerbate erosion)
Birds Attracted:
Sparrows, Finches, Doves, Other seed-eating birds
Insects Attracted:
Various insects, including bees and butterflies, are attracted to the flowers.
Mammals Attracted:
Rodents may use the dense clumps for shelter and nesting.
Note:
Cortaderia selloana is a highly invasive species in South Africa and is listed as a Category 1b invader under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA). It forms dense stands that outcompete native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and increase fire risk.
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