Cortaderia 'Pink Feather' (Pink Pampas Grass)
A Statement Grass with Soft Pink Plumes
If you're looking for one plant that brings height, movement and a touch of drama to your garden, Cortaderia 'Pink Feather' is hard to beat. This handsome pampas grass forms a large, graceful clump of arching evergreen foliage. From late summer, tall stems rise above it carrying fluffy, feather-like plumes in a soft, silvery pink. The plumes catch the light beautifully, sway in the slightest breeze, and often stay on the plant well into winter, so the display lasts for months.
Pampas grass has come back into fashion, and 'Pink Feather' is an especially appealing choice. Its blush-pink colouring feels softer and more romantic than the classic creamy-white types, and it suits both contemporary and cottage-style planting.
Key Features
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Soft pink, feathery plumes from late summer through autumn, often lasting into winter
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Evergreen, arching foliage that gives year-round structure
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Impressive height, making a striking focal point or natural screen
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Fully hardy in most UK gardens once established
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Low maintenance, needing little attention beyond a yearly tidy
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Drought tolerant once settled, and happy in coastal gardens
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Excellent for cutting and drying, adding a stylish touch to indoor arrangements
Size and Growth
'Pink Feather' is a substantial plant, so give it room to show off. When mature, the flower stems typically reach around 2 to 2.5 metres (roughly 7 to 8 feet), with a spread of about 1.5 metres. The clump of foliage itself sits lower, usually around 1 to 1.5 metres tall. It grows at a moderate pace and generally reaches its full size within a few years of planting.
Where to Plant
This grass loves sunshine and thrives in an open, bright spot. For the best results:
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Position: Full sun is ideal. It will tolerate a little light shade, but flowering is best in sun.
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Soil: Any reasonably well-drained soil will do, including sandy and chalky soils. Avoid ground that stays waterlogged over winter.
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Exposure: It copes well with wind and salty coastal air, making it a good option for seaside gardens.
Because of its size and the sharp edges of its leaves, plant it away from paths, patios and play areas where people might brush past it.
Garden Uses
'Pink Feather' is a versatile plant that works in many settings:
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As a focal point, standing alone in a lawn or gravel garden
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At the back of a border, adding height behind shorter perennials
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In prairie-style or naturalistic planting, alongside other grasses and late-flowering perennials such as rudbeckias, sedums and asters
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In coastal and gravel gardens, where its tough nature really shines
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As an informal screen, softening boundaries or hiding less attractive features
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In large containers, though it will need regular watering and eventually a big pot
Planting Guide
Spring is the best time to plant, giving the roots a full growing season to establish before winter, although container-grown plants can go in at most times of year if the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.
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Dig a hole about twice the width of the pot and the same depth.
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Loosen the soil at the bottom and sides of the hole. On heavy soils, mix in some grit to improve drainage.
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Place the plant in the hole so it sits at the same level it was in its pot.
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Backfill, firm the soil gently around the roots and water well.
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Keep it watered during dry spells for its first growing season while it settles in.
Care and Maintenance
Once established, 'Pink Feather' needs very little looking after.
Watering
Water regularly in the first year, especially during hot, dry weather. After that, it's very drought tolerant and usually manages on rainfall alone, except in prolonged dry spells or when grown in containers.
Feeding
Pampas grass isn't a hungry plant. A light sprinkling of general-purpose fertiliser in spring is plenty, and on reasonable soil it may not need feeding at all.
Pruning and Tidying
The main job is a yearly tidy in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins:
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Cut away the old flower stems at the base.
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Remove dead and brown foliage. Wearing thick gloves and long sleeves, you can "comb" through the clump with a gloved hand or a rake to pull out old leaves.
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Every few years, you may wish to cut the whole clump back hard to around 30 to 60 centimetres to refresh it, taking care not to damage any emerging shoots.
Avoid the old practice of setting fire to the clump. It can damage or kill the plant and is dangerous in a garden setting.
Using the Plumes Indoors
The plumes make wonderful dried decorations. Cut them when they're freshly open and looking their best, then hang them upside down in a dry, airy spot for a couple of weeks. A light spray of unscented hairspray helps reduce shedding. Dried pampas lasts for many months and looks lovely in tall vases, wreaths and seasonal displays.
Why Choose Cortaderia 'Pink Feather'?
For gardeners who want maximum impact with minimum fuss, this is an easy win. It offers year-round structure, a long season of soft pink colour, and a relaxed, elegant feel that works in gardens large and small. It's tough and dependable, and with a quick tidy once a year it will reward you with a beautiful display for many years to come.
Buying Bamboo & Grasses from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell the majority of our stock all year round. Our stock is for the most part grown outdoors making it far hardier than those grown under glass and/or only sold ‘In Season’. With Bamboo and Grasses the leaves can differ in quality dependent on the time of the year and whether they are in their growth phase. We protect less hardy species during the winter but other plants grown out doors may have some wind damage. This is in no way detrimental to the plant and will grow out naturally in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Ornamental grasses can provide calming, delicate accompaniments to colourful flowering plants, or they can be the focus of design instead. There are types available for every garden setup, soil type and position, and will provide colour, coverage, contrast and structure wherever they are planted.
Planting and Conditions
Grasses from colder climates such as Deschampsia, Festuca, Helctotrichon and Stipa grow in late winter and flower before mid-summer. To get the best establishment, they should be planted in the autumn.
Grasses from warmer climates such as Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum and Spartina grow in late spring, flower after mid-summer and are best cut back in late winter. Plan them in late spring, and they will be best established.
Grasses also make good container specimens, and will prosper in loamy soil.
Ideally, the planting areas for grasses should be prepared in the autumn months. Till the soil deeply, and work in ample organic matter. Ornamental grasses do not require large amounts of fertiliser.
Aftercare and Pruning
The foliage on deciduous grasses can be left until February. They turn brown rather than lose their leaves, and so should be pruned to ground level later in the season. The severity of pruning required can vary from variety to variety, so care should be taken so that you don’t harm the plant.
Evergreen grasses can be trimmed in autumn / spring. Remove brown tips and cut back dead leaves that usually collect around the base of the plant.
Care for your grasses by using mulch and watering them regularly. Otherwise, they are a fairy low maintenance addition to the garden.
Potential Issues
Nothing really bothers most ornamental grasses. Rabbits and voles may occasionally be an issue, but they can easily be controlled using fencing and, if needs must, animal repellents.
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