Cortaderia selloana Mini Pampas - 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' is the leader of a line of pampas grasses that are small in size but floriferous and hardy, making them ideal for small gardens or terrace decoration. This selection forms a beautiful dense clump of thin leaves, from which numerous plume-like and silky white panicles emerge in late summer. This pretty perennial grass is as easy to grow as the classic pampas grass.

The Cortaderia selloana Mini Pampas is a recent horticultural variety. It is derived, among others, from a highly ornamental large 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 the edges of roads and trails, stream banks and fallow lands. This species is characterised by its great adaptability to the soil it inhabits, accepting both occasionally waterlogged and semi-arid conditions in subtropical climates. It is a dioecious plant, meaning there are male and female plants. It has given rise to numerous cultivars, with varying degrees of hardiness.

The 'Mini Pampas' variety is mainly distinguished by its reduced size, increased floribundance, and whiter flower heads compared to other types. This grass forms a tuft of linear, green, evergreen foliage, provided the winters are not too severe. The leaves are sharp, tough, and rustling. The mature plant will reach a height of about 1 m (3ft) when flowering, with a spread of 80 cm (32in) to 1 m (3ft). Its slightly arched habit somewhat resembles that of a fountain. Its beautiful flower heads appear in late summer, in August-September, at the centre of the tuft, in the form of large plume-like panicles that persist on the plant until at least November. They are borne on sturdy, cylindrical stems that are highly wind-resistant.

This large grass, which has been omnipresent in our gardens since the 1960s, needs no introduction. The only point that can perhaps be emphasised is the poor use that has been made of it. It is true that it looks a bit ridiculous, planted there all alone in the middle of a lawn, when it is so beautiful when used in mass plantings or among shrubs. Cortaderia selloana Mini Pampas forms elegant, luminous tufts that have a very exotic appearance. Truly undemanding, it adapts to all gardens, even small ones. Superb in mass plantings, its strong presence provides them with a beautiful structure and a lot of grace. It should be placed among red hot pokers, giant asters, or tall perennial sunflowers. In a wild and tousled atmosphere or a modern and minimalist one, it is fascinating to watch it play with the wind and bend under the rain showers. In urban areas, pampas grasses integrate well, with their pastel colours, they are ideal for softening angles.

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