Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana): care and trimming

Updated on 22 September 2026Published on 5 April 2018

Tall Pampas grass fronds against blue sky

Feathery panicles borne on scapes over 13 feet (4 metres) tall rise above a fountain of arching blades: pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is grown as a standalone specimen that shows off its uniqueness, or massed into great swaying plains. Give it full sun and space well clear of a hedge, because it grows seriously large.

Pampas grass at a glance
Name	Cortaderia selloana
Family	Poaceae
Type	grass, perennial
Height	1 ⅓ to 13 feet (1.5 to 4 metres)
Exposure	full sun
Soil	ordinary
Flowering	early to mid-autumn

Take note that this grass was planted the world over… now it has become invasive in many parts of it!

Planting Pampas grass

Preferably in spring or fall in soil amended with soil mix.

Pampas grass loves sun.
Luckily, it isn’t very sensitive to the type of soil it must grow on.
Propagate it through crown division in spring.

Pampas grass jobs, season by season

Everything this grass asks for comes down to four moments in the year. Here they are side by side, so you can see at a glance what is due and when.

Pampas grass jobs, season by season
Job	When	What it involves
Planting	Spring or autumn	Set it in soil amended with soil mix, in full sun
Propagating	Spring	Split the clump by crown division
Hard cutting back	Late autumn	Cut the plant right back once blades and flowers have dried up
Protecting the base	Early winter, harsh climates only	Mulch the foot of the clump with dried leaves
Light trim	Late autumn, mild climates	Shorten to 20 inches (50 cm) and leave the base unprotected

Whichever route you take, cutting back is also what keeps this grass from turning invasive.

Trimming Pampas grass

It’s up to you whether you want to keep the leafage and blooms in winter or not, because it can either be trimmed and evened out, or simply kept as is.

But since Pampas grass can quickly turn invasive if nothing is done, here is our advice on trimming it:

Cut back the plant to the shortest at the end of fall, when the blades of grass and flowers have dried up.
Mulch the foot of the plant with dried leaves if the winter is very harsh in your area.
In areas with mild climates, simply cut the grass back to 20 inches (50 cm), no need to protect the base of the grass shoots.

Learn more about Pampas grass

Pampas grass care — Flower scapes and panicles tower over 13 feet high

This very ornamental and sometimes spectacular perennial sends up beautiful flowers scapes and panicles that tower at over 13 feet (4 meters) high. It’s a type of feather grass.

However, its beauty doesn’t make it any less invasive. In some areas of the globe, legislation is underway to actually ban its sale, because it tends to propagate extremely fast. It wipes out native plants entirely as it encroaches the land.

It is fine as a standalone, that’s what best highlights its uniqueness. But if you’ve got a lot of space available, you can also create large swaying plains of Pampas grass.

Upon planting, take great care not to plant too near a hedge or a neighbor’s plot, because it grows seriously large!

Read also:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pampas grass invasive?

Yes. It was planted all over the world and has since become invasive in many regions, spreading extremely fast and wiping out native plants as it encroaches on the land. In some parts of the globe legislation is under way to ban its sale altogether. Cutting it back hard each year is the main way to keep it in check.

When and how far should I cut back pampas grass?

Cut it back to the shortest at the end of autumn, once the blades and flower plumes have dried out. In mild areas a simple trim down to 20 inches (50 cm) is enough and the base needs no protection. Where winters are very harsh, mulch the foot of the clump with dried leaves.

Where is the best place to plant pampas grass?

Give it full sun; the soil type barely matters, since this grass is not fussy about what it grows on. Keep it well away from a hedge or a neighbour’s boundary, because the clump grows seriously large. As a standalone it shows off its uniqueness best, while a large plot can take a whole swaying plain of it.

How do you propagate pampas grass?

Divide the crown in spring, splitting an established clump into pieces that can be replanted. This is the same technique used for perennials and other ornamental grasses. Plant the divisions in spring or autumn, in soil improved with some soil mix.

Smart tip about Pampas grass

Pozzolana looks great and makes the Pampas grass look astounding. Spread this mineral mulch around the clump.

Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.

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