Cortaderia selloana Tiny Pampa - 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 'Tiny Pampa' is undoubtedly the smallest variety of Pampas Grass currently available in the horticultural market. This selection is nonetheless very floriferous, allowing every gardener to enjoy the charm of this grass even in restricted spaces or on a terrace. In late summer, numerous plume-like and silky panicles emerge from its foliage, displaying a white colour with silver reflections. This lovely perennial grass is as easy to grow as the classic Pampas Grass, but slightly less hardy.

Cortaderia selloana Tiny Pampa is a horticultural variety that was awarded a silver medal at Plantarium in 2020. It comes from a highly ornamental tall grass that is also known as Gynerium or Cortaderia argentea, belonging to the family of Poaceae. This plant is native to South America, specifically Argentina and Brazil, where it colonises the edges of roads and paths, stream banks, and fallow areas by abundantly self-seeding. This species is characterised by its great adaptability to the hosting soil, accepting both occasionally waterlogged soils and semi-arid conditions in regions with a subtropical climate. It is a dioecious plant, meaning that there are male and female plants. It has given rise to numerous cultivars, which vary greatly in hardiness.

The 'Tiny Pampa' variety is mainly distinguished by its reduced growth, but also by its increased floribundity. This grass forms tufts of linear, evergreen foliage during mild winters. The leaves are sharp, tough, and rustle. The mature plant reaches a height of about 60 cm (24in) when in flower, with a spread of 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in). Its slightly arched habit somewhat resembles that of a fountain. The leaves have a fairly deep grey-green-blue colour. Its beautiful flower heads appear in late summer, in August-September, at the centre of the shrub, in the form of large plume-like panicles that remain on the plant at least until November, while taking on intense silver reflections. They are borne on sturdy, cylindrical stems that are highly resistant to wind. When both male and female individuals are present, female plants produce a large quantity of seeds that are dispersed by the wind.

This tall grass, which has been omnipresent in our gardens since the 1960s, needs no introduction. 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, planted there all alone in the middle of a lawn when it is so beautiful when used in mass plantings or in a flower bed among bushes. The Cortaderia selloana 'Tiny Pampa' indeed forms attractive shrubs with a very exotic appearance and has the advantage of adapting to all gardens in mild climates, even the smallest ones. Its strong presence adds structure and grace to flower beds and low-growing shrubs. Plant it among asters and chrysanthemums, in front of smoke bushes or repeat-flowering roses.  In urban areas, Pampas Grass blends well with its pastel colours, as it softens corners without clashing.

Attention: Pampas Grass can be invasive in certain regions. When it escapes from gardens, it colonises fallow lands, sandy areas and wetlands 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 Miscanthus.