Cortaderia selloana Mini Pampas Gold - Pampas Grass

IMPORTANT: for the preservation of our natural ecosystems, we have removed this plant from our catalogue as it is considered invasive. Therefore, it is no longer available for sale.

The Cortaderia selloana 'Mini Pampas Gold' is part of a line of small-growing pampas grasses that are floriferous and highly hardy, making them ideal for small gardens or terrace decoration. This "Gold" selection forms a beautiful dense clump of fine leaves, from which numerous plume-like and silky pale blonde panicles with golden highlights emerge in late summer. This lovely perennial grass is as easy to grow as the classic pampas grass.

The Cortaderia selloana Mini Pampas Gold is a recent horticultural variety. It is derived, among others, from a highly ornamental tall grass also known as Gynerium or Cortaderia argentea, belonging to the Poaceae family. This plant is native to South America, specifically Argentina and Brazil, where it abundantly colonises roadside edges, pathsides, stream banks, and fallow areas. This species is characterised by its great adaptability to the hosting soil, tolerating intermittently waterlogged areas as well as the semi-arid conditions of subtropical climates. It is a dioecious plant, meaning there are male and female plants. It has given rise to numerous cultivars, which vary greatly in hardiness.

The 'Mini Pampas Gold' variety stands out mainly for its reduced growth, as well as its increased floriferousness. This grass forms a tuft of linear, green, evergreen foliage during mild winters. The leaves are sharp, tough, and rustling. The mature plant will reach a height of approximately 1m (3ft) when flowering, with a spread of 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft). Its slightly arching habit somewhat resembles that of a fountain. Its beautiful flower heads appear in late summer, in August-September, at the centre of the shrub in the form of large feathery and golden panicles, which remain on the plant at least until November. They are carried by sturdy cylindrical stems highly resistant to wind.

This tall grass, which has been omnipresent in our gardens since the 1960s, needs no introduction. The only point that may be worth noting is the misuse that has been made of it. It is true that it looks a bit ridiculous when planted alone in the middle of a lawn, whereas it is so beautiful when used en masse or in a flower bed among bushes. The Cortaderia selloana Mini Pampas Gold forms elegant, luminous clumps with a very exotic appearance. It is truly undemanding, and it adapts to all gardens, even small ones. Splendid in a mass planting, its strong presence brings structure and grace to them. It can be placed kniphofias, giant asters, or tall perennial sunflowers. In a wild and tousled or modern and minimalist setting, watch it sway in the wind and bend under rain showers. In urban areas, pampas grass blends in well with its pastel colours, making it ideal for softening corners without clashing.

Attention: The classic pampas grass, the botanical species, is invasive in certain regions. When it escapes from gardens, it colonises fallow lands, sandy environments and wet areas causing significant ecological disruption. If you live in an affected region, we recommend not planting it. It can be replaced by many other architectural grasses, such as panics or miscanthus.