Pampas grass is a serious speed-demon in the garden. Some varieties grow so incredibly fast that homeowners love using them as a natural privacy screen along property lines. But before you go planting a hedge, keep in mind that not every type of pampas grass is cut out for that specific job.
It takes a few years to reach full glory
Out of the roughly 600 species of pampas grass out there, only a handful really thrive in our neck of the woods. Depending on the variety, you’re looking at heights anywhere from 30 inches to over 10 feet. One thing to remember: those height estimates usually include the tall, fluffy plumes. You’ll need a little patience, though, because pampas grass usually won’t hit its first blooming season until the root base (the “clump”) has had a few years to establish itself and store up enough energy to send out those iconic flowers and plumes.
How high will they go?
Depending on the variety, the green stalks of pampas grass generally grow between three and five feet per year. The plumes, on the other hand, can shoot up to ten feet in a single season! There’s a lot of variety in how tall these plants get and what color the plumes will be. Here are some of the most popular varieties you’ll find at the local nursery:
- Cortaderia selloana “Pumila”: up to 5 feet, silvery-white plumes
- Cortaderia selloana “Compacta”: up to 4 feet, silvery-white plumes
- Cortaderia selloana “Sunningdale Silver”: up to 10 feet, silvery-white plumes
- Cortaderia selloana “Rosea”: up to 8 feet, pink plumes
- Cortaderia selloana “Evita”: up to 5 feet, yellow plumes
- Cortaderia selloana “Silver Comet”: up to 5 feet, creamy-yellow plumes
What if your pampas grass is stalling?
If your grass isn’t hitting those height milestones, don’t panic. Usually, one of these three culprits is to blame:
- The location isn’t sunny enough (these plants are sun-worshippers!).
- It’s hungry for more nutrients (you might need to step up your fertilizing game).
- The soil is too soggy (make sure you have good drainage so the roots don’t rot).
