Gardeners absolutely love pampas grass, mostly because it grows like crazy! If you’re looking for a natural privacy screen along your property line, this ornamental grass fills in fast to create a beautiful hedge. But beyond just being practical, pampas grass is a real showstopper in the landscape—especially when those iconic plumes start blooming in a variety of stunning colors.
It’s All About the Variety
Because it comes in so many different shades, you can fit pampas grass into almost any garden design. You just have to pick the right variety for your vibe. One of the best things about this plant is that it doesn’t bloom until late summer or early fall. Just when your other summer flowers are starting to fade, pampas grass steps in to keep the garden looking vibrant. Just a heads-up, though: your plant needs to reach a certain maturity level before it’ll produce its first set of plumes.
A Rainbow of Plumes
Below are some of the most popular varieties you’ll find at the nursery. I definitely recommend buying established plants rather than starting from seed, as growing them from scratch can be a real chore! Since the blooming window varies a bit depending on the type, I’ve noted those details for you here:
- Pumila: Classic white plumes (Blooms: September – October)
- Sunningdale Silver: Shimmering white plumes (Blooms: September – October)
- Rosea: Gorgeous pink plumes, reaching up to 8 feet tall (Blooms: September – October)
- Patagonia: Reddish plumes, grows to about 5 feet (Blooms: September – October)
- Citaro: White-yellow plumes (Blooms: October)
- Evita: Creamy white to light yellow plumes (Blooms: August – October)
- Silver Comet: Creamy yellow plumes (Blooms: September – October)
Don’t Forget the Foliage!
The colorful plumes get all the glory, but the leaves themselves can look very different depending on the variety you choose. You can find everything from bright whites to deep blue-greens to help add texture to your yard year-round.
- Pumila: Gray-green
- Sunningdale Silver: Blue-green
- Rosea: Gray-green
- Patagonia: Light green
- Citaro: True green
- Evita: Blue-green
- Silver Comet: Whitish/Variegated
