About

Cortaderia fulvida (Buchanan) Zotov is native to the moist environments of New Zealand. This species features substantial, elegantly bending flower panicles that are silver-brown in color and exhibit a hint of pink in their youth, rising above the gently arching leaves.

About the genus

Cortaderia consists of sturdy evergreen grasses that develop sizable, compact clumps of narrow, rough-textured leaves. These grasses produce upright stems topped with dense flower panicles that range from silvery to pink hues, making them ideal for drying purposes.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Grass Like
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
1.5-2.5 metres
Spread
1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height
5-10 years
Suggested uses
Architectural, Prairie planting, Cottage and informal garden
Native to
New Zealand

Care notes

Cultivation
Easy to grow in most well-drained fertile soils in full sun. May need some winter protection in first season
Pruning
Cut back old, flowered stems and dead foliage at the bases in late winter
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in spring or by division in spring
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free