How to Grow Pampas Grass: A Guide for Flower Growers
If you’re a cut flower grower or flower farmer, you’ve probably already noticed the growing popularity of using pampas grass in floral design and home decor. Are you wondering how to grow pampas grass, harvest it, and make money off it? If so, you’ve found the right resource!
(And if you’re a home gardener or flower fan who’s found your way here—welcome! You’re in good company. There’s great stuff in this article for home gardeners, too!)
Pampas grass wedding floral design and event decor has found its way all over Pinterest—and rightly so! (1)
You’ll find the following in this article:
Pros and cons to growing pampas grass
How to grow pampas grass
The best growing zones for pampas
Where to sell pampas grass
How to harvest and dry pampas grass—and how to store until purchased or shipped
Beautiful alternatives to pampas grass (when it’s hard to grow in your zone)
Should You Grow Pampas Grass (If You Can)?
Pampas grass has found its way all over Pinterest in wedding floral design and event decor, but it’s also popping up in everyday bouquets and home decor.
If you’re a cut flower grower (or even a micro flower farmer!), you might be wondering if you can get in on the pampas grass trend and earn additional revenue off this popular ornamental grass.
How can you provide this easy-to-grow popular cut plume to your market—and as soon as possible?
This grass can be challenging for floral designers to easily source due to its popularity. If you have the growing space (and even the drying and storage space) for this sought-after ornamental grass, you could earn additional revenue for your floral business.
“This grass can be challenging for floral designers to source due to its popularity.”
And if you’re a home gardener who has a ton of it, you may be able to earn a little extra gardening money in the late summer and fall by getting in contact with floral designers in your area ahead of the pampas-grass blooming season.
But growing pampas grass isn’t for everyone—and only you know what’s best for your farm, garden, and your local market. Let’s dive into a quick list of some of the pros and cons!
Curious about growing flowers for market? Love to grow flowers but want to earn money doing so? Check out our online flower growing classes to learn how to make money growing and selling flowers.
Pros to Growing and Selling Pampas Grass
There are benefits to growing pampas grass to sell at market—let’s look into some of the pros below!
It’s a popular, on-trend floral product that’s not going away anytime soon.
It’s easy to grow and dry.
If you’re a flower farmer who already has floral design or wholesale clients, it’s likely your customers are also looking for pampas grass wholesale sources.
Depending on the availability in your area, you may be able to charge a premium.
Home decor enthusiasts are also seeking out dried pampas grass, so you may reach new markets.
If you have drying and storage space, you may be able to open up new revenue streams by selling dried pampas grass directly through sites like Etsy.
It’s resistant to many garden pests and requires low water.
Some varieties of pampas grass are sterile (non-seed producing), which can decrease or eliminate the unwanted spread of seeds.
Cons to Growing and Selling Pampas Grass
Growing pampas grass isn’t for every farmer or gardener. Below are some cons that you’ll need to think through before diving in.
Pampas grass is considered an invasive species in some areas, so you must check with the regulations in your state or country.
Pampas grass can get out of control, as it produces tons of seeds that can easily be blown throughout your property and grows to become quite large.
Growing this grass may be best left to those who have significant growing space. (It can get massive)
Containing may be difficult, and in some cases, may require regularly burning or intense pruning.
Removing pampas grass is labor-intensive if you decide to stop growing it.
Reducing the size or thinning out overgrown pampas grass is an extensive chore; it’s a huge plant with strong roots that requires significant labor to do so.
If you’re selling cut pampas grass, it requires extra storage and drying space.
The foliage of pampas grass is incredibly sharp! If you have young children at your residence or farm, you’ll want to grow it away from any play areas.
Again, only you know what’s right for your farm or garden!
Growing pampas grass in bulk may be best for those who have significant growing space. That way, the plant is cultivated away from other flower farming endeavors, having plenty of wiggle room to grow and reducing seed distribution in other growing spaces.
But if you know that growing this beloved ornamental is right for you, let’s move into some growing tips!
Pampas grass and dried florals stand out against a bright green backdrop. (2)
How to Grow Pampas Grass
Pampas grass is easy to grow, but you’ll need to be strategic about where you plant it. While some varieties do well in containers (especially the dwarf varieties), you’ll need to plan out your growing space ahead of time if you’re growing the full-size plant in bulk for cut flower use.
Quick facts about growing pampas:
Pampas grass does best in growing zones 7-11; however, some hardy varieties can be successfully grown in zone 6.
The grass should be planted in full sun for best bloom yield results, but it can tolerate partial shade.
Pampas must be planted in well-drained soil.
For full-size pampas grass, you’ll need 6–8 feet between plants if you’re using them as a hedge (1).
If you don’t need a tight hedge and desire more space (especially for harvesting), plan on giving more room for optimum growth, spacing, and harvesting—possibly up to 14 feet (2).
If you’re growing pampas grass from seed, it will take 2 to 3 years until you receive a solid bloom yield, so plan accordingly.
Full-size pampas grass can grow up to 12 feet tall, so ensure you have correct and safe tools to harvest cut plumes (and possibly even a step ladder!)
“Remember: Pampas grass is easy to grow, but be strategic about where you plant it. It needs lots of room!”
Growing pampas grass from seed
Growing pampas grass from seed is simple, straightforward, and cost-effective, but it does take some patience.
Remember, if you start pampas grass from seed, you won’t have the fluffy plumes for 2 to 3 years.
Sow your pampas grass seeds in your growing medium in flats or trays.
Leave the seeds on the surface of your growing medium—don’t press them down into the soil or bury them.
Keep your tray of seeds moist—but not wet—and in a warm area (no less than 65 degrees F).
Pampas grass seeds need consistent light to germinate, so ensure your seeds are getting at least 6-8 hours of light a day.
Once the seeds sprout, you may need to transplant them individually into small containers until they mature further.
Once any risk of frost is over and the seedlings themselves are slightly grassy or bushy with some solid root development, you can move them into your garden or growing space, keeping the 6–14 feet spacing between plants in mind.
If you prefer to get growing right away, you can purchase more mature pampas grass plants for sale in one-gallon and three-gallon containers from many plant retailers and garden centers. These can be more expensive to start with; however, they may shorten your wait time for those beautiful pampas plumes.
Caring for pampas grass
“Each year, pampas should be pruned and cut back close to the ground to encourage new, healthy growth.”
Pampas grass care is simple: Each year, it should be pruned and cut back close to the ground to encourage new, healthy growth. Leave several inches of length behind, so your pampas grass plant looks like a little shrub that received a buzz cut!
Pruning should take place in late winter or early spring—and prune with care using the right tools and safety gear, as the blades of grass are sharp and can be prickly. Some gardeners even recommend a chainsaw for pruning due to the heartiness and thickness of the plant (3).
Harvesting Pampas Grass: Drying, Storing, and Selling
Pampas grass blooms in late summer and early fall. Depending on your growing zone and season, pampas grass may bloom (or maintain its blooms if not cut) throughout the winter.
To harvest pampas, simply snip the stalk of the plumes at your desired stem length. Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind before harvesting the plumes:
Harvest plumes before they mature and shed. Cutting pampas grass soon after it blooms will reduce the shedding that comes with aging.
Watch out for unexpected inhabitants. The bushy ornamental grass can be a haven for rodents, snakes, and more. Make sure it’s safe and that you’re in the clear before you start harvesting.
Remember, the grass is sharp! Wear long sleeves, gloves, and any other safety gear you may need.
Listen to your customers. Are you selling to floral designers who need the longest stems available for installations? Or are you okay to cut plumes shorter based on your market’s needs? Perhaps your goal is to harvest the stems as long as possible and let your customers decide the length.
If you plan on drying pampas grass plumes and storing them until they’re purchased or shipped, ensure you have a warm, dry place to dry. Spritzing the plumes with a light coat of cheap hairspray as needed during the drying process will keep them intact and help with preservation.
If you’re storing dried pampas for some time before fulfilling orders or using in design work, Team Flower Member Jennifer Parker recommends storing dried pampas grass in large garbage bags to keep it contained, minimizing the shedding mess. Simply fluff before shipping or taking to market and include instructions for the receiver on continued careful preservation.
Where to Sell Pampas Grass
If you’re growing and harvesting pampas grass to sell, there are several ways to get your cut pampas plumes to customers.
You can connect with Slow Flowers to join the site directory to be found by floral professionals and consumers looking for local flower growers.
You also can join the Team Flower Community (that’s us!) to be included in the directory. Many of our community members are looking for regular pampas grass wholesale resources!
“Consider allowing others to carefully forage the grass from your property at a pay per stem rate.”
You could also consider allowing floral designers, interior designers, and even pampas grass home decor lovers in your area to forage the grass at a pay per stem rate. (However, just make sure you have the proper insurance on your property in place and that everyone is wearing the appropriate safety gear, taking safety precautions, and using the correct harvesting equipment.)
You could also sell your fresh-harvested or dried pampas grass in places such as:
Etsy
eBay
Directly through your website (if you have the capability)
Local farmers’ markets in your area
Makers’ markets, art fairs, and other craft- and decor-centered local events
Floral wholesalers in your region
Check out our Growing and Selling Flowers for Market online class to equip yourself to sell your floral products confidently to your community!
Beautiful Substitutions for Pampas Grass
Despite pampas grass being easy to grow and requiring minimal care, perhaps you’ve decided it’s not the right choice for your flower farm or garden space. But how can you take advantage of the fluffy, fun, and striking ornamental grass trend?
“Consider adding other ornamental grasses or plants to your growing operations!”
If growing pampas grass isn’t for you, you may want to consider adding other ornamental grasses or plants to your growing operations that provide a similar visual impact in floral designs and home decor.
While there is no alternative to pampas grass that is truly interchangeable (it’s in a league of its own!), some ideas are included below.
Finding a substitution for pampas grass can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. (3)
Bunny grass (this has a different look than pampas, but it can give that bouncy, airy feel that your customers are searching for)
Wheat
Dried wild oats
Oriental feather grass
Muhly grass
Giant wildrye grass
Feather reed grass
African love grass
In addition, some dried and bleached cut palms and ferns can offer a similar look and may be a well-received offering by your cut flower customers. This can be a great product to provide your clients if you have the space and operations to dry, bleach, and store cut botanicals.
For a more extensive list of pampas grass substitutes—including design and storage tips—read Where to Buy Pampas Grass Wholesale + Practical Design Tips for Floral Pros.
Is Growing Pampas Grass for You?
If you’re already growing cut flowers and are wondering if you should add pampas grass to your offerings, it can be easy to start doing so.
Currently, pampas grass is in high demand for weddings and events and in the floral design and home decor industries, so it’s a great time to start growing.
“Pampas grass is in high demand for weddings, events, and in the floral design and home decor industries.”
Just make sure you have suitable space and growing conditions before you begin! (And the patience to wait for those sought-after, fluffy plumes!)
Do you have a pampas grass growing tip or correction to this guide that you’d like to share? Contact us via the red chat button on the bottom right! We love hearing from our readers.
Photography Credit: Design by The Flora Club
