Cortaderia selloana Pampas-grass

A tall, densely-tufted perennial grass with sharply serrated leaves almost 3m in length. The distinctive inflorescences which are produced in late summer and autumn are silvery-white at maturity and can be identified at distance. It is a native of South America which was introduced to Britain for cultivation and has become a very popular garden plant. Plants that have been thrown out often become naturalised and it was first recoded wild in Britain in 1925. It is not uncommon in West Glamorgan, mostly in coastal locations, in waste places, rough grassland, on brownfield sites and in sand dunes. It appears to be increasing its local range as a result of seed dispersal. Early Pampas-grass (Cortaderia richardii) is similar but smaller with shorter leaves (about 1m long) and flowers in early summer; it has not been recorded in West Glamorgan.

Neophyte