pampas grass

American  

noun

1. a tall, ornamental grass, Cortaderia selloana, native to South America, having large, thick, feathery, silvery-white panicles.

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pampas grass British  

/ ˈpæmpəs, -pəz /

noun

1. any of various large grasses of the South American genus Cortaderia and related genera, widely cultivated for their large feathery silver-coloured flower branches

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Etymology

Origin of pampas grass

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

For her installation, she had conjured up large-scale, eye-popping works with dried lotus leaves, dyed pampas grass and anthuriums radiant with iridescent paint.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2022

“People underestimate how expensive pampas grass is,” Wilson said.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 2021

From the window in her new room on the opposite side of the building, she views not reporters and cameras, but pampas grass, pine trees and birds visiting a birdbath.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2021

It is why no one has grown pampas grass for the past 40 years.

From The Guardian • Jan. 20, 2020

Beside this tiny stream, wherever enough earth collected for root-hold, colonies of plants grew, wild grape and little palms, maidenhair fern, hibiscus, and tall pampas grass with feathery rods raised above the spike leaves.

From "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck