Cortaderia selloana 'Rosea' (Pink Pampas Grass) is a bold ornamental grass known for its large feathery pink plumes that rise above robust clumps of arching green foliage. This striking plant adds vertical drama and texture to the landscape and makes a superb focal point in sunny garden spaces. Its blooms appear from late summer into fall and are excellent for dried floral arrangements or left standing for winter interest.
Height & Spread: 6 - 8 ft x 4 - 6 ft
Bloom Time: Late summer to fall
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Well drained soils, tolerant of poor and sandy conditions
Watering Needs: Low once established
Deer Resistance: Unpalatable to deer due to coarse foliage and sharp leaf edges
Native Status
Native to South America, particularly Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, this cultivar is widely grown in ornamental settings and is not native to North America.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- The dense foliage provides nesting habitat and cover for small birds and seed plumes may attract finches in winter.
Beneficial Insects
- Offers structural shelter for predatory insects such as ladybugs and spiders which help manage pest populations.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Allow 6 - 8 ft of spacing to accommodate full mature width and airflow around the plant.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for backdrops in large perennial borders, accent points in xeric landscapes, or as a privacy screen in sunny gardens.
Companion Plants
- Agastache foeniculum 'Blue Fortune' - Tall upright blue flower spikes create a cooling visual balance to the airy pink plumes.
- Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' - Compact lavender variety with fragrant blooms at the base of the dramatic grass form.
- Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah' - Red tinted ornamental grass pairs well with the soft pink blooms of Cortaderia and adds autumnal hues.
- Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' - Bright golden daisies echo the warmth of the pink plumes while offering contrast in form and height.
- Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' - Large pink coneflowers harmonize with the pink plumes and attract pollinators throughout summer.