Pampas grass

Pampas grass is a huge clump-forming grass from southern South America, grown worldwide for its silky, feather-duster plumes held high above arching blue-green leaves. It thrives on open, disturbed ground and has become a serious invasive weed in mild-climate regions including the Azores, California and New Zealand.

• Male and female plumes grow on separate plants; the fluffier, showier ones are usually female.
• A single female plant can release over a million tiny seeds that drift on the wind for kilometres.
• The leaf edges carry microscopic silica teeth sharp enough to slice skin, so it is best handled with gloves.

Care
If you grow it, plant it in full sun with room to spread, cut the clump back hard in late winter, and remove spent plumes before seed disperses in areas where it can escape.