About
Cortaderia richardii is a perennial grass that develops a compact tuft of slender, curved, leathery foliage. Its inflorescences, resembling plumes, can reach lengths of up to 60 cm and feature a silvery-white hue, providing a notable visual element in the landscape.
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
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Grass Like
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Prairie planting, Architectural, Coastal
- Native to
- New Zealand
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun
- Pruning
- Cut and comb out the previous year's stems and foliage in late winter or early spring taking care to avoid the sharp leaf margins
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed at 13-18°C (55-64°F) in spring or propagate by division in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free