Pampas Grass

» max_read - Pampas Grass Invasive?

Jared: I've asked on my site, but I thought you might have had some experience with Pampas Grass. Have you noticed it being particularly invasive? Thanks

-- posted by max_read

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» Jojo - pesty pampas

Hi Max (and Jared)

I get a few volunteer seedlings around my pampas grass, but they are usually smothered by other plants very quickly, and if not they are easy to remove at a young state. In more ideal climates (milder and not so rainy as my own) Pampas grass can become a bit of a pest, putting little seedlings all over the place.

The truth is though, that the regular, garden pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is not that invasive. It gets a reputation for being horribly invasive from it's close cousin Jubata grass (Cortaderia jubata). This wild pampas grass is incredibly invasive and has become a serious weed along the california coast. This confusion between species is quite understandable because really they look very alike. Jubata grass plumes tend to be slimmer and held higher above the leaves of the plant that the ornamental species. Also, Jubata grass bears fewer plumes.

Because of this confusion, some nurseries in California refrain from selling any kind of Cortaderia whatsoever.

Good on 'em - better safe than sorry.

-- posted by Jojo

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