Cortaderia selloana

Cortaderia selloana Pampasgrass
Photo: Joseph DiTomaso

Common names: pampasgrass; white pampasgrass

Cortaderia selloana (pampasgrass) is a large perennial grass (family Poaceae) found along the coast of California, and in the Coast Ranges, Central Valley, Western Transverse Ranges, and Mojave Desert. Pampasgrass favors dunes, bluffs, coastal shrublands and marshes, inland riparian areas, and disturbed areas. It was introduced as an ornamental plant and for erosion control. Each plume produces up to 100,000 seeds that are widely dispersed by wind and develop without fertilization. Pampasgrass quickly colonizes bare ground, but establishment is generally poor where the seedlings must compete with other grasses or sedges.

Cal-IPC Rating: High?

CDFA Rating: None?

Assessment(s)

Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.

Species ID Card

Invasive Species ID Card - To support field identification of early detection species, Cal-IPC has designed a set of Species ID cards that can be downloaded, printed double-sided, and trimmed to size.

Special Reports

Pampasgrass and jubatagrass brochure - from UC Davis, Weed Research & Information Center

Weed Management Notes

  • Management Notes - Information on management techniques and effectiveness from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Weed Research & Information Center.

Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles

Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations

Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.

Other Cortaderia selloana Information

  • CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
  • Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
  • CalWeedMapper - Distribution map of this species in California with ability to determine regional priorities.
  • EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
  • Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
  • USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.
  • Additional photos

    Cortaderia selloana_female (L) and male (R) inflorescence_JM Di Tomaso
    Cortaderia selloana (pampasgrass) female (L) and male (R) inflorescence. Photo: JM Di Tomaso
    Cortaderia selloana_growth habit (female)_ JM Di Tomaso
    Cortaderia selloana (pampasgrass) growth habit (female). Photo: JM Di Tomaso
    Cortaderia selloana_pampas grass_collar sheath_ JM Di Tomaso
    Cortaderia selloana (pampasgrass) collar sheath. Photo: JM Di Tomaso