Q&A for How to Grow Pampas Grass

Yes, pampas grass is an invasive species. It is a plant that displaces others.

Pampas grass is native to Brazil. In the U.S., it can be found in plant zones 8-12.

They will grow in partial shade but are truly meant for full sun locations.

It grows to maturity in 2-4 years, while the center stems die after the first season. New sprouts will grow from the outside edges in order to increase the plant's size.

No, don't plant your pampas grass seeds in the fall. Planting pampas grass is recommended for the spring.

Despite its name, pampas grass should be treated more like a plant than grass. You don't need to mow it, but it's a good idea to prune it instead.

Yes, you certainly can. Start it inside the house, in a container large enough to support its weight and height. The bamboo stem is heavy when it gets big and it will grow over 10 feet tall, so bear this in mind when deciding where to place the container and when to shift it outside (if needed).

Continue to give it water and make sure there is nothing blocking its access to full sunlight.

Whenever you want, but make sure to plant the seed in a place that sunlight reaches it and give it water daily.

Pampas grass grows quite quickly. If you started with seeds, you should see sprouts within one month. If you started with a young plant, expect it to grow and spread within a few months of planting.

Yes, just make sure to use the right amount of UV light and water to correctly stimulate the growth process.

Pampas grass spreads by dropping its seeds, which will grow new plants. Pampas grass is a very seedy plant which is why is spreads so much.

Pampas grass does best in well-drained soil. Planting it near a water source will not give this grass the best chance to thrive. Too much water also prevents the plant from flowering, but will instead encourage the foliage to grow. Consider planting it a few yards from the creek bed, instead.

Try to squeeze water out of it. If some come's out it is alive, if not its dead.

Yes, you can. Pampas grass is quite difficult to remove, however. Be sure to dig out the entire root system if you do not want any more pampas grass in the original location. Transfer the plant to the other garden and plant it as directed in the steps above.

You can. Pampas grass is very hardy, so the "Weed and Feed" will likely not affect your grass.

It looks pretty much like grass at first, just a little thicker. It will look like a small clump, but the blades will appear tubular, rather than flat like grass.

Because pampas grass grows so wide and tall, it is best planted outdoors rather than in a container. However, you can start your seeds in a container before transferring them to a lawn or garden area. The sowing rate for pampas grass is 5 seeds per plant. Each plant can grow to 10 ft (3 m) tall and 4 ft (1.2 m) wide, so choose the number of seeds based on how much room you have.

Pampas grass can grow up to 8 ft (2.4 m) wide. This plant spreads quite a bit, so be sure to keep it at least that far from away from any roadways. You should also prune the plant regularly to ensure it does not obstruct any roadways or lines of sight.

Over-watering is likely the culprit here. Pampas grass does not need much water, and too much can cause the plant to yellow and die. Leave your pampas grass alone for a month or two (i.e. don't water it) and see if the issue clears up.

Yes. I planted a seedling pampas grass which was no more than nine inches tall and spindly. My girlfriend thought it was a weed and pulled it out. I recovered the plant from a pile of weeds and re-planted it and it thrived after being replanted as a wilted bare root and wilted leaves. It's pretty tough if well watered in again.

The color of the flower is specific to the type of plant you're growing, and no amount of seed dying will alter this. The only way to get different colors from almost any plant (except hydrangeas) is to crossbreed different colors of flower until you get one you like.

Yes, I'm in Zone 5 (Ontario) and started Pampas grass from seed under "grow lights". It did very well. However, in our colder region, Pampas grass is only grown for one session. It never did produce plumes, but it did grown thick and healthy.

20" is quite narrow. While it's probable that the plants will survive, the nature in which pampas grass clumps would most likely mean that you'd be displeased with the sharp blades as they cascade onto your deck and/or through the chain-link fence.

No, certainly not. While 12 - 18" is usually recommended, pampas grass is extremely resilient. I've personally witnessed young plants recover from accidental mowing.

Pampas grass is a hardy plant and will likely adapt well to most environments. It does best in zones 8 to 10. Pampas grass can survive in colder areas, but will likely grow as an annual rather than a perennial. Be sure to plant your grass after the last spring frost to ensure it will thrive if you live in a colder climate.

Pampas grass needs to be pruned each year. If the flower stems are left in, they will get rot and therefore cause a hole in the center. Prune back stems in late winter.

Did you grow it from seed or are you growing it from a small plant? It might be because it is not getting any sunlight. Maybe try watering it more.