Swaziland's Alien Plants Database

Cortaderia selloana (Schult.) Aschers. & Graebn.

POACEAE

Common Pampas grass

Invasive, Potential problem species

Origin: South America

Growth Form: Graminoid

Plant Description: Plant: Robust, tussock grass up to 3.5 m in diameter; flowering stalks up to 4 m high. Leaves: Greyish- or bluish-green, up to 1800 mm long x 10 mm wide, reflexed, tips narrowly tapering, bristle-like, blade often v-shaped in cross-section, margins rough, somewhat cutting; leaves mostly basal to two-thirds of the height of the flowering stalks. Flowers: Silvery-white to pink or mauve, stiffly branching, feathery, 400–700 mm long, (January–)February–April(–May). Fruit: Seeds, falling from old inflorescence which then appears white.

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More information:
Weeds & Invasive Plants Home Page
NRCS Plants Database

Illustration

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200. Washington, DC.

Photo - flowers