Cortaderia selloana Pink Phantom - Pampas Grass

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

The Cortaderia selloana 'Pink Phantom' is an unusual variety of Pampas Grass, which combines variegated foliage with a delightful pink flowering in late summer. Impressive, bright, evergreen in winter, this beautiful perennial grass has a lot of presence in the garden, especially since its large plume-like flowers, which have soft silver reflections under the low autumn light, remain decorative for a long time. In addition to its ornamental qualities, the Pampas Grass is easy to grow in the sun, in ordinary soil, even poor, dry in summer, and high in salt.

Cortaderia selloana, also known as Gynerium or Cortaderia argentea, is a large, highly ornamental grass belonging to the Poaceae family. It is native to South America, specifically Argentina and Brazil, where it spreads abundantly by self-seeding along roadsides, paths, stream banks, fallow land, and disturbed areas. This plant is characterised by its great adaptability to the hosting soil, even accepting the semi-arid conditions of subtropical climates. It is a dioecious plant, meaning that there are male and female plants.

The Cortaderia selloana 'Pink Phantom' forms a tuft of foliage that remains evergreen in mild climates during winter. Its narrow, linear leaves are tough, sharp, and rustling. The flowering plant will reach approximately 1.80m (6ft) in height and 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft) in width. Its habit is slightly arched. The leaves are bluish-grey-green, finely edged with pale yellow to cream yellow. Its beautiful flower heads appear in late summer, in August-September, in the centre of the tuft, in the form of sumptuous soft pink feathery panicles measuring 30 to 50cm (12 to 20in) long, which remain on the plant at least until November, fading. They are borne on sturdy cylindrical stems that are highly resistant to wind. When both male and female individuals are present, the female plants produce a large quantity of seeds that are dispersed by the wind.

This large grass has been present in our gardens since the 1960s. The only point that may be worth mentioning is the improper use that has been made of it. It is true that it looks a bit ridiculous, planted all alone, in the middle of a lawn, when it is so beautiful when used in mass or among shrubs. The Cortaderia selloana Pink Phantom indeed forms large, elegant, and bright tufts, with a very exotic appearance. Truly undemanding, it adapts to all gardens, except perhaps the smallest ones. Designed for large beds, its strong presence brings beautiful structure and a lot of grace, if given enough space to express itself. Pair it with red hot pokers, giant asters, or tall perennial sunflowers. In a wild and untamed atmosphere or a modern and minimalist one, watch it play with the wind and bend under rain showers. In urban areas, Pampas Grass integrates well with its pastel colours, softening the edges without clashing. Magnificent when planted near water features, they can accompany vernonias.

Attention: Classic Pampas Grass, the botanical species, can be invasive in certain regions. Escaping from gardens, it colonises fallow land, sandy environments and wetlands causing significant ecological disturbance. If you live in an affected region, we recommend not planting it. It can be replaced by many other architectural grasses, such as Panic Grasses or Miscanthus.