Pampas grass

Cortaderia selloana 'Rose Plume' is pampas grass with a blush. The feathery plumes emerge with a warm, rosy-pink flush before softening to creamy white as the season progresses — all carried on tall, graceful arching stems above dense mounds of narrow, silver-green foliage. It is one of the most dramatic ornamental grasses available for a UK garden, and in the right setting it is breathtaking.

The plumes of 'Rose Plume' are the main event — enormous, silky-soft feathery heads that catch every breeze and glow warmly in low autumn sunlight. The initial rosy-pink colouring as they emerge gives way to a soft, warm cream as they mature, adding movement and texture to the garden from late summer onwards. The foliage itself forms a substantial, arching mound of long, narrow, silver-green blades — attractive in its own right as a structural element even when not in plume. As a specimen plant, a garden focal point, or a large container centrepiece, 'Rose Plume' is genuinely impressive.

Pampas grass is an architectural, clump-forming grass that grows to 1.5 to 2 m in height when in plume at full maturity, with the foliage mound reaching 1 to 1.5 m wide. Supplied at 20 cm in a 9 cm pot, this is a young plant that will establish and grow steadily, beginning to produce plumes from its second or third year. It suits large borders, island beds, specimen planting, and large containers on a sunny patio where space allows.

Full sun is essential for the best plume production. Position in the most open, sunny spot available. Pampas grass is wind-tolerant and actually benefits from an open position where air movement prevents the centre of the clump from rotting. Avoid very shaded positions or north-facing sites. Well-drained soil and a sheltered-but-sunny aspect is the ideal combination.

Pampas grass requires some attention to keep it at its best, but it is well worth it. Cut back the old foliage in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges — wearing thick gloves, as the leaf margins are very sharp. The feathery plumes can be cut for dried flower arrangements, where they last beautifully for months indoors. Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring and water young plants regularly while establishing. Once mature it is remarkably tough and drought tolerant.

Few plants create the same kind of atmospheric, cinematic quality as pampas grass in late summer. Those silky pink-tipped plumes catching the golden afternoon light, swaying in the breeze above that dense silver-green base — it is exactly the kind of planting moment that makes a garden feel like somewhere special. 'Rose Plume' adds a romantic, textural layer to large garden spaces that no other plant quite replicates.

• Rose-Pink Plumes: The warm, blush-tipped plumes make this more romantic than standard white pampas.
• Year-Round Structure: The dense foliage mound provides strong form even without plumes.
• Cut Flower Gold: Dry the plumes and use indoors as a statement dried arrangement.
• Drought Tolerant Once Established: Remarkably tough once it settles in.
• A Garden Focal Point: Perfect as a standalone specimen or back-of-border statement.

Cortaderia 'Rose Plume' is a long-term investment in your garden's wow factor. Give it a sunny, open spot, be patient for the first couple of years, and it will reward you with years of spectacular plumes and architectural presence.

Size at dispatch: 20 cm in height, and comes in a 9 cm pot
Care level: Medium
Pet safety: No, toxic to pets