Pampas grass.Cortaderia spp.
Native to South America
There are a number of species of pampas grass which invade the coast. A problem mainly along the central coast on waste sites and disturbed areas on hind-dunes, headlands and in bushland.
Form: Large grass in tussocks, blades up to2.5m long.
Flower: Large plume on end of long spike, silvery white to pink. Summer to autumn.
Fruit/Seed: Produces numerous tiny seeds up to 100,000 per plume.
Control: Seed heads should be bagged to contain seeds and stop spreading during removal. To dig it out by hand, cut back all the long blades then mattock and lever the root mass from the ground. Ensure all rhizomes are removed.
A number of chemical controls are available. A useful method includes burning the plant then spraying diluted glyphosate on new shoots.