pampas grasses

genus Cortaderia

Member of grasses (family Poaceae)
grasses, sedges, cattails, and allies (order Poales)
monocots (class Liliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

There are no other wild species of this genus in California.

pampas grass
Cortaderia selloana

pampas grass
Cortaderia selloana

panicle at most only slightly elevated above foliage
inflorescence stalk 2–3 × inflorescence length
fresh flowers are white/cream (becoming tan with age)
sheath glabrous or sparsely hairy [example]

purple pampas grass
Cortaderia jubata

purple pampas grass
Cortaderia jubata

panicle well-elevated above foliage
inflorescence stalk 4–5 × inflorescence length
fresh flowers are pale purple (becoming tan with age)
sheath densely hairy [example]

2 observed taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 15 (6 are research grade)

Locations:

Almaden Quicksilver CP: 4
San Pedro Valley CP: 3
Sierra Azul OSP: 2
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area: 2
Waterdog Lake & Open Space: 2
Mt. Madonna SP
Wunderlich CP

Months:

Jan.: 2
Feb.: 2
Mar.: 1
Apr.: 2
May: 0
Jun.: 1
Jul.: 0
Aug.: 1
Sep.: 2
Oct.: 2
Nov.: 2

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora