Definition

Noun: * A tall, perennial grass (Cortaderia selloana) native to the pampas grasslands of South America. It is characterized by its large, dense clumps of sharp-edged leaves and its showy, silvery-white or pinkish feathery flower plumes.

Examples

• The garden was bordered by a majestic stand of pampas grass, its plumes swaying in the breeze.
• Pampas grass can become invasive in some climates outside its native habitat.
• She used dried pampas grass plumes as decoration in her living room.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Note: While ornamental, is considered an invasive species in many regions (e.g., California, New Zealand, South Africa) because it outcompetes native vegetation.
• Horticultural Use: It is often used in landscaping for its dramatic height, texture, and drought tolerance once established.

Variants and Related Words

• Cortaderia: The botanical genus name for pampas grass and related species.
• Plume Grass: A common name sometimes used for pampas grass, referring to its distinctive flower heads.

Synonyms

• Cortaderia selloana (scientific name)
• Silver pampas grass (for varieties with silvery-white plumes)
• Pink pampas grass (for varieties with pinkish plumes)

Related Phrases

• Clump-forming grass: Describes its growth habit of forming large, dense tufts.
• Ornamental grass: The category of grasses grown primarily for their aesthetic appeal in gardens, which includes pampas grass.

Noun

1. tall perennial grass of pampas of South America having silvery plumes and growing in large dense clumps