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

Horticultural invasives, such as butterfly bush, English ivy, pampas grass and many other garden favorites that have escaped cultivation, are of increasing concern.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2024

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

Last year, Atlanta-based floral designer Laura Wilson went viral with an eye-popping tree made entirely of pampas grass.

From Washington Post • Dec. 8, 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