Cortaderia selloana Sunningdale Silver -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 therefore no longer available for sale.

Cortaderia selloana 'Sunningdale Silver', better known as Pampas Grass, is one of the most robust varieties derived from this imposing evergreen grass. Monumental and graceful, it produces remarkably dense, feathery and silky panicles in late summer, of a bright pure white tinted with silver. This extraordinary perennial, hardy and wind-resistant, is easy to grow in the sun, in ordinary soil. Magnificent used en masse or in a flower bed, among bushes, it will be spectacular when planted near a pond.

Cortaderia selloana, also known as Gynerium argenteum, is a large and ornamental grass belonging to the Poaceae family. It is native to South America, specifically Argentina and Brazil, where it colonises the edges of roads and trails, stream banks, fallow land, and disturbed areas by abundantly self-seeding. This plant is characterised by great adaptability to the soil it grows in, even accepting the semi-arid conditions of subtropical climates. It is a dioecious plant, meaning that there are male and female plants.

'Sunningdale Silver' distinguishes itself from the typical species mainly by its pure silver-white flowering, but also by its great robustness and excellent hardiness. This imposing grass forms a clump of linear, evergreen foliage during not too harsh winters. The leaves are sharp and tough. The mature plant will reach a height of 2 to 3m (7 to 10ft) when flowering, with a spread of 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft). Its slightly arched habit resembles that of a fountain. The leaves are greyish-blue-green. Its immense flower heads appear in late summer, in August-September, in the centre of the shrub, in the form of sumptuous and very compact feathery panicles, 30 to 50cm (12 to 20in) long, which remain on the plant at least until November, while taking on intense silver reflections. They are carried by sturdy, wind-resistant cylindrical stems. 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 omnipresent in our gardens since the 1960s. The only point that can perhaps be emphasised is the misuse that has been made of it. It is true that it looks a bit ridiculous when planted all alone in the middle of a lawn, when it is so beautifully used en masse or in a flower bed, among bushes. Cortaderia selloana 'Sunningdale Silver' forms large tufts with a very exotic appearance, but it should not be planted in the garden without taking the time to think about it; its motto could well be: "I'm here, I'm staying!". This undemanding grass has the advantage of adapting to all gardens, except perhaps the smallest ones. Designed for large flower beds, its strong presence brings beautiful structure and a lot of grace if given enough space to grow. Plant it among asters, behind chrysanthemums, smoke bushes or repeat-flowering roses, and let it grow and spread. Whether in a wild and atmospheric garden or a modern and minimalist setting, watch it play with the wind and bend under rain showers. In urban areas, Pampas Grass blends in well with its pastel colours, rounding off corners without clashing. Planted near water features, it accompanies creeping conifers and vernonias in well-drained soil.

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