Plant library · Ornamental Grasses
Cortaderia selloana
Pampas grass is a large perennial ornamental grass that creates a strong vertical feature, reaching about 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Its dense clumping habit and tall, feathery plumes make it best suited to generous, open planting areas rather than tight mixed borders. Use it where a bold mass can remain in place year after year, with full sun and a low-water planting approach.
Set pampas grass at the back of a broad border, along a property edge, or as a single focal clump in an open bed. It can form a substantial seasonal screen, but needs enough setback that its mature mass does not press into a path, patio, gate, or neighboring planting. Keep lower plants in front and leave the grass unobstructed on at least one side so its arching form and late-season plumes can be seen from a distance.
Space plants 6 feet apart, center to center, when planting a repeated row or screen. Each clump can reach about 6 feet across, so that spacing produces a close, substantial rhythm as plants mature. For a specimen, reserve a clear circle at least 6 feet wide and avoid placing it beside narrow circulation routes. Its 10-foot height can cast a noticeable presence over smaller border plants behind or beside it.
Give pampas grass a full-sun position where the large clump will not be shaded by buildings, trees, or taller shrubs. Its low water needs make it easier to place in a drier ornamental bed than beside plants that require frequent irrigation. Keep the planting area simple enough that watering zones, edging, and nearby maintenance do not require working through the mature clump.
The feathery display arrives from late summer into fall, when the plant becomes a tall visual anchor in the garden. Plan for that peak height when laying out sightlines from windows, seating areas, and paths. In late winter or early spring, remove old flower stems and dead foliage before new growth advances; leave enough working room around the base for that annual task.[1][2]
Keep pampas grass away from places where people regularly brush past it, including narrow walks, play areas, and close patio edges: its leaf margins can be sharply toothed. In Florida, it is considered invasive and is not recommended for landscape use. Check local planting guidance before using it near natural areas or in regions where self-seeding may be a concern.[1][3]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.