Pampas grass: everything for planting, caring for and propagating

The pampas grass with its fluffy flowers is a real eye-catcher in the garden in summer. You can find everything you need to know about pampas grass here.

The pampas grass (Cortaderia) is one of the most popular ornamental grasses in our gardens. It can be found alone, as an attractive solitary plant, or in groups, as a decorative privacy screen. The pampas grass grows in clumps, so it always sprouts from the mother plant and belongs to the sweet grass family (Poaceae).

Pampas grass: characteristics and appearance

Especially the American pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is very common with us. It originally comes from a subtropical area, the grass steppe "Pampas" on the southeast coast of South America. In summer, the non-poisonous plant forms large, mostly silvery-white flower panicles, which, with their stem length of up to 2.50 m and more, present an impressive spectacle. However, depending on the variety, the ornamental grass also has flower fronds in other pastel shades.
The evergreen leaves, however, reach a maximum height of 1 m. A wide variety of leaf patterns can also be found here. Due to its graceful growth and the special height of its inflorescence, the pampas grass is an impressive exotic in the ornamental garden.

Pampas grass: different shapes and varieties

Worldwide we find a huge, previously undocumented variety of different forms and varieties of pampas grass. The beautiful sweet grass is mainly differentiated according to the height of its growth and the color of its flower panicles.

Pampas grass varieties: the 5 most popular varieties

'Compacta' is a robust little ornamental grass. Its flower stems reach a height of up to 120 cm. Even in the width of the eyrie, the plant remains with a diameter of half a meter. The panicle, which blooms from September to October, is creamy white in color.
The leaves of the pampas grass 'Compacta' are green and deciduous. As long as the ornamental shrub is not exposed to waterlogging, it can be settled well in stone beds or stone plants. Because it is not too tall, it is a good eye-catcher without blocking the whole view at the same time.

‚Evita ‘ also belongs to the smaller, but very elegant grasses. A large number of light yellow to yellow gold fronds form from August to October. The leaves are gray-green and winter hardy. The whole plant grows very expansively. Thanks to its compact growth and long-lasting bloom, 'Evita' is also ideal for garden pots. It is important that the plant has enough space to develop, so do not choose a container that is too small and please use potting soil that is well permeable to water. The pampas grass is about 1.20 m high and prefers a partially shaded place. When planting tubs, a change of location to a frost-protected room would be the most beneficial for a safe wintering. This type of ornamental grass often blooms in the first year of planting.

'Rosea' is characterized by its rare pink panicles. It is a very special beauty for the garden and can grow up to 2 m high. The flowers of the 'Rosea' appear in September and October and are pink to gray in color.
The foliage consists of narrow, green-gray leaves that are about 1 m long.

'Rendatleri' is also a pink flowering ornamental grass that can reach a height of up to 250 cm. Its leaves are deciduous and almost 150 cm long. We can see the beautiful flowers from September to November. They are a real eye-catcher for every garden.

'Sunningdale Silver' reaches an imposing size of 250 cm. With its long, silvery-white fronds, 'Sunningdale Silver' is a slender grass beauty and can be described as a robust classic among the pampas grasses. As a solitary plant, it comes into its own most impressively. The leaves are very narrow gray-green and, like all pampas leaves, sharp-edged. They can reach a length of 120 cm. The eyrie of the plant can expand up to a diameter of 130 cm.

Pampas grass as a privacy screen

If you want to plant pampas grass as a privacy screen, you should use grass with high growth. 'Sunningdale Silver', 'Rendatleri' and also the 'White Feather' reach a height of up to 250 cm. Pampas grass is very decorative and fast-growing. Especially when the grassy privacy screen is supposed to protect against the sun in summer, such a location suits the preferences of the plants very much - they particularly like sunny places.

Before winter sets in, the fronds should be tied so that the grass is better protected from the winter wet. However, this restricts the privacy protection. Once a year in the spring months, the plants are cut back. For a short time, the privacy is almost completely lost. But after a few weeks the new shoots will have grown up again and you can look forward to the buds sprouting.

Planting pampas grass: location and procedure

The location for the pampas grass needs to be carefully selected - not because it has such great demands, but rather because of its enormous vigor.

• Pampas grass needs enough space
  If you would like to bring the pampas grass into your garden as an ornamental plant, please note from the outset that even the small varieties can grow to a good 120 cm and can easily reach a diameter of one meter and more can. So you need enough space.
• Pampas grass loves sunny and warm locations
  If you have chosen a sunny and warm location, then the habitat for the roots of the pampas grass has to be made loose and permeable to water. Soils that are too loamy would store too much moisture in winter and the roots would rot. The ornamental grass likes it when you mix in sand or small gravel. You should also give a good dose of humus or a primarily organic long-term fertilizer like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer be mixed in.

When to plant pampas grass?

Pampas grass should be planted in spring or early summer. In this way, the new garden dweller can develop well over the course of the year and is well rooted in the location for the next wintering and ready for cold temperatures.

How do I plant pampas grass?

The planting hole is dug about 40 to 45 cm deep. It is advisable to water the clump of the plant well before planting. The best way to do this is to submerge it in a large bucket or tub of water until it is completely soaked. Then place in the planting hole, fill in with soil and press firmly. Pay attention to the distances between the individual plants (100 to 130 cm). No runners form on pampas grass, so a rhizome barrier is not necessary.

Planting pampas grass: step by step instructions

• After the ground is frost-free (the ice saints should be over), the pampas grass can be planted outdoors.
• Dig a 40 - 45 cm large planting hole - make sure it is also wide enough.
• If the soil is not permeable enough, mix some sand or fine gravel into the excavated material.
• Add some humus-rich plant substrate and insert the watered plant.
• Depending on the height of the grass, a distance of 1 - 1.3 m between the plants should be maintained.
• Water particularly well for the next 14 days, but avoid waterlogging.

Attention: Be sure to put on gloves when planting pampas grass. The foliage is extremely sharp and can cause nasty cuts.

A detailed guide to the Planting pampas grass can be found in here.

Pampas grass in the pot and on the balcony

The pampas grass is not only an attractive addition to the garden in the bed. It also looks very decorative in pots and pots, on terraces and balconies. In the pot or bucket, the pampas grass usually does not reach the height of growth as in the bed, but remains a little smaller than in the field. Nevertheless, the planter must be generously designed in depth and width, it should have a capacity of at least 40 to 45 liters. Use a suitable soil like our peat-free one for planting Plantura organic universal soilthat contains all the nutrients necessary for healthy growth.

When planting pampas in a pot, it is an advantage if it has drainage holes in the bottom so that there is no waterlogging. You can also put potsherds or larger pebbles as the lower filling layer, so you get a simple drainage that has the same effect. If there are any drainage holes, the bucket should be placed on a coaster. In order to be able to move the heavy vessels in winter without great effort, and so they in front of them To protect them from extreme cold, it is advisable to put them on small roller boards when planting place.

More useful tips for that Planting pampas grass in a pot You will find here.

Propagate and divide pampas grass

You have two options for propagating your pampas grass: First, you can sow the grass yourself. On the other hand, by dividing the pampas grass, you can quickly and easily turn one plant into several. Regardless of which method of propagation you choose - we will take a closer look at both methods.

Sow the pampas grass and grow it in a pot

If you want to sow pampas grass, you can either use seeds you have collected from existing plants in your garden, or you can buy seeds from a specialist dealer. The latter is the better option, as the pampas grass is dioecious (there are male and female plants). Since you cannot tell from the seed what kind of plant it is, you should prefer the dealer's goods, you can get them there only female seeds, as the female grasses grow much more luxuriantly and also form more and larger fronds than the male ones Plants.

You can sow the seeds in the pot as early as March and leave them there until the ice saints in May are over. To do this, place the seeds at a distance on pots filled with good potting soil. Then the seeds are pressed briefly and watered. In the further process, make sure that the swelling and germinating seeds never dry out. Drought during the germination process could cause failure. Either cover the pots with the seeds with a pane of glass or spray the surface regularly with a fine spray bottle.

Note: Do not put extra soil over the seeds after pressing. Pampas grass is a light germ, so it needs light to germinate.

You can then plant the sprouted plants outdoors in May, when no more frost is expected. If you want to be on the safe side, repot the plants again and store them in the container until the following year. Then they are guaranteed to be robust enough to survive outdoors.

Divide the pampas grass

Vegetative breeding is easier and more effective by dividing a mother plant. In doing so, you expose the eyrie of the desired grass from your garden in whole or in part and cut off a piece of it with a spade. Then the partial plant is inserted into a sufficiently large, prepared hole, into which you ideally add some humus-rich compost for a good starter fertilization. It is preferable to divide the pampas grass in the spring after it has been cut back. Then there will be enough time to take root again by next winter.

Maintain pampas grass: fertilize and water properly

Pampas grass is a fast growing ornamental plant. During the growth phase, it needs plenty of nutrients, which is why regular fertilization makes perfect sense.

Fertilize pampas grass: Organic or mineral fertilizer

Regular fertilization is very important in the phase of greatest growth (spring to late summer).

It is therefore an advantage to apply a starter fertilizer to the planting hole when planting or transplanting. For the extra portion of nutrients in particularly vigorous years and the supply of all trace elements, it is advisable to apply a complete fertilizer. Primarily organic fertilizers are the most sustainable choice and also have many advantages. On the one hand, they promote soil life and enrich the soil with new organic matter. On the other hand, the structural condition of the soil is also positively influenced. Last but not least, organic fertilizers are primarily resource-saving because they are largely made from organic waste and other biological recycling material. Even with ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer it is such a sustainable and primarily organic fertilizer.

Water the pampas grass

As a rule, the roots of a pampas grass are sufficiently developed to absorb enough water from the soil. Additional watering is only useful in particularly dry phases during the main growth. However, if the pampas grass is in the pot, it is of course much more regular to be supplied with water. But waterlogging should also be avoided here. If a pampas grass has been transplanted or divided and then planted again, make sure that it is watered regularly until the pampas grass has acclimatized sufficiently at the new location. But the same applies here: Avoid waterlogging at all costs.

Cutting back pampas grass: professional tips

The pampas grass is one of the most beautiful ornamental grasses. It should be cut back once a year so that the special abundance of its inflorescence is promoted or retained.

Do you have to cut pampas grass?

A pruning is very important because this ornamental grass is a clump-forming plant. It sprouts again and again from the mother plant. Since the stems and leaves dry up in late autumn, enough space and light must be created for the new shoots in spring. This is the only way to guarantee a dense and beautiful new shoot.

When and how to cut pampas grass?

It is important to make sure that the pruning is done in spring, depending on the weather from March to May. It is not good to do this maintenance work in the fall because the stems of the pampas grass are hollow. If it were cut back in autumn, too much water would accumulate in it and the perennial would very likely partially or even completely rot due to the moisture.

If your ornamental grass is in the bucket and will be moved to a frost-free room over the winter, you should only prune it in spring. The ideal time is when the first new shoot tips can be seen. Then cut your pampas grass down to around 15 to 20 cm with sharp secateurs.

Caution: Remember to always wear gloves when working with pampas grass so that you don't cut yourself on the leaves.

Detailed instructions and further tips on the Pampas grass cutting can be found in our special article.

Successfully overwintering pampas grass

In our latitudes, pampas grass is not completely hardy and needs winter protection. In late autumn, when the stems have dried up, tie them together in the upper area. Spread a layer of straw or dry leaves on the lower area of ​​the plant and then layer sticks over it. If possible, wrap the plant in a fleece or a coconut mat at full height. Protected in this way, the pampas grass can also withstand colder temperatures of up to -10 to -15 ° C.

If your pampas grass is in a planter, you should find winter quarters for the ornamental grass in good time and water it moderately from time to time. If it is not possible to move the plant to a protected space, then wrap the pot with bubble wrap and place it on a piece of styrofoam or on some wooden slats. The same applies here: It is best to wrap the entire height of the grass in a fleece. So winter can come.

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