Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Uruguayan pampas grass

Inflorescence of pampas grass are light and feathery and much larger than those of many other grasses
Joy Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org

Pampas grass was introduced to North America from eastern South America. It prefers moist soils and sun, but can thrive in dry conditions as well. It can quickly colonize an area due to its high volume of seeds, resulting in thick stands, which may become fire fodder. The six-foot-tall stalks have a distinctive feathery whitish-lavender cluster of seeds.

Stems of pampas grass clustered densely with luxuriant, whitish inflorescences filling out the tops of the stems. Seedheads can also have a lavender cast to them.
John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
This clump of pampas grass shows the tall, dark green leaf blades
John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
This clump of pampas grass shows the tall, dark green leaf blades
John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Two examples of inflorescences, female and male. Female flowers are lighter and more feathery. Male inflorescence is a light brown with a much more compact profile.
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis
Growth habit showing how densely this grass can grow
William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management Intern
Scientific Name
Cortaderia selloana
Plant Type
Grass / Grasslike
⚠
Noxious
For definitions, see the glossary.

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