Pampas Grass

The native range of C. selloana includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This region is dominated by subtropical forests and grasslands, but C. selloana is typically restricted to moist soil within riparian areas. It is found at lower elevations and at moister sites than the closely related C. jubata. It requires areas with plentiful light and soil moisture. It is a common invasive species in temperate regions around the world, where it can be found growing in moist, disturbed soil.

Control. Pampas grass can be controlled through herbicide treatment. To accomplish this, the grass is cut down near the base. Next, a 2% glyphosate chemical solution is combined with a silicone-based surfactant and applied to enhance the penetration potential. This method works best in the fall because there is overall better control compared to other seasons. Another control method is to cut and bag inflorescences to prevent seeds from spreading or pulling seedlings.

Several cultivars are available, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

Aureolineata Evita Monstrosa Patagonia Pumila Silver Feather Notcort Sunningdale Silver—grows to a height of 4 m (13.1 ft) and has particularly dense flowering plumes

Cortaderia is derived from the Argentine Spanish name cortadera, meaning 'cutter', in reference to its razor-sharp leaf margins. Selloana is named for Friedrich Sellow (1789–1831), a German botanist and naturalist from Potsdam who worked as a plant collector in Brazil. He studied the flora of South America, especially that of Brazil. The specific epithet selloana was given by Josef August and Julius Hermann Schultes in 1827.