How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Pampas Grass

When you spot its ethereal plumes swaying in the wind, it’s clear why pampas grass has rocketed to the top of everyone’s wish list.

I nearly passed out when I saw how much a couple of dried stalks cost at my local design store, especially given that it can be an invasive weed in some areas.

But in other places, it’s a tough, maintenance-free grass that looks far more delicate than it actually is.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Propagate seed, or buy one (or a dozen) of the white, cream, silver, or pink cultivars in pots ready for transplanting to add a big, bold focal point or backdrop to your garden.

In the fall, snip them by the handful and bring them into your home for an of-the-moment interior design element.

Okay, enough chitchat. Let’s cover how to get this ornamental grass into your garden ASAP. Here’s what you can expect in the coming guide:

The species is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zone 7 through 10, but there are lots of cultivars that will survive conditions in Zone 6 and up.

Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is native to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. But its elegant form and tough nature has attracted people to it across the globe.

The plants are made up of clumps of stems and leaves. These large clumps are called tussocks.

Each tussock is composed of long, narrow leaves that grow about six feet tall. The leaves are blue-green, long, and strappy, with toothed edges.

From the tussock of leaves emerge long, stiff stems, technically known as culms, that grow up to 13 feet tall. A single plant can stretch out beyond 10 feet.

At the end of the stem tips is