People who have their own plot of land and use it not only for utilitarian purposes should be very interested in pampas grass - the photo clearly demonstrates how decorative this plant is. Scientifically, it is called cordateria. At home - in South America and the Pacific Islands - pampas grass has more than twenty varieties. But in our latitudes and longitudes, only one species is grown - Cortaderia selloana.
Description of cordateria
Pampas grass is a perennial cereal plant, which is attractive to gardeners - it is not necessary to renew plantings every year. It grows up to three and a half meters, has long leaves curved in elegant arcs. Most of the foliage is matte green, but there is pampas grass with leaves that have cream or white stripes. But cordateria is especially valued for its autumn flowering, when fluffy panicles appear, reachingsometimes a meter long. By winter, they do not fly around, and throughout the dull winter they decorate the garden.
Use of cortaderia in phytodesign
When planning flower beds on the site, it is worth considering the growth and splendor of the plant. Usually it performs an architectural role: it creates a pronounced vertical line. Most often, pampas grass is planted in the background of mixborders or tapeworm - in fairly large open areas. If there is a reservoir on the site - natural or artificial - it looks great in the design of the coastline. Cordatheria feels quite comfortable near walls or fences, which is often used to enhance their decorative effect. In small areas, its natural growth is not very appropriate; in addition, three meters of pampas grass will overwhelm other plants. In such cases, regular pruning and shaping is carried out.
Verbena, echinacea, kosmeya, yarrow, rudbeckia are suitable as companions for cordateria - in general, high cereals.
Conditions for survival
What is good about pampas grass is its unpretentiousness. It can be planted in places chosen by you, and not taking into account the vagaries of the plant. Cordataria is very tenacious, it does not care about the acidity and fertility of the soil, its excessive dryness or, on the contrary, the swampiness of the site. Pampas grass will survive even in rocky terrain - as long as it is not solid granite so that the roots can become stronger and penetrate deeper into the soil. It is desirable that the chosen place be as sunny as possible - in thiscase, you are guaranteed especially lush flowering. However, both in diffused light and in partial shade, pampas grass will bloom, it's just that the brushes are formed not so long and in smaller numbers.
Pampas Grass Care
The unpretentiousness of cordateria also affects the characteristics of care. It does not even need regular watering and can survive prolonged drought. However, under harsh conditions, the decorative effect is somewhat lost: the foliage becomes less bright, and with the complete absence of water in the right period, pampas grass can “refuse” to bloom. Therefore, closer to August, a couple of times a week, it is still better to water the cordateria, and feed the newly planted, not yet adapted and not fixed plants.
On the other hand, pampas grass is not susceptible to diseases and does not suffer from pests, so you are definitely insured against the role of her doctor. By and large, all care comes down to the formation of a bush, if you do not intend to let the cordateria grow arbitrarily, and cutting the panicles before the start of the new season.
Safety measures
As spectacular as pampas grass is (photo), it is in some ways unsafe. It received its scientific name from the Spanish cortar, which translates as "to cut." The edge of her leaves is hard and sharp, it is extremely easy to cut yourself on it. Therefore, cordateria should be planted away from paths, and especially from playgrounds. When shaping or cutting brushes, gloves are required and protective goggles are desirable.
Cordateria can "threaten" not onlypeople, but also plants. Why pampas grass is dangerous for them - its reproduction can become uncontrollable. In its native lands, it is considered almost a weed; in order to get rid of the misfortune, the steppes are often burned out. In order not to face such a scourge on your site, the place reserved for cordateria is fenced with deeply dug sheets of slate or metal. Alternatively, you can cut off the growing roots in the spring, although this method is less effective - you will not keep track of all the shoots.
A little about seeds
If pampas grass has not yet been available on your site, propagation by seeds is possible and not difficult: their germination is almost one hundred percent. The problem is that the planted seeds will sprout in the same year, but it will take five whole years to wait for flowering. On the other hand, if you already have pampas grass, the seeds can be useful for refreshing and renewing plantings - existing specimens will decorate the site while new ones grow.
In this regard, new cordateria plantations are usually formed by purchased seedlings, and an existing one is expanded by dividing the bush.
Planting pampas grass
First of all, decide what kind of pampas grass you like. Seed propagation, used in nurseries, gives buyers the opportunity to choose seedlings that will produce clusters of their preferred color - pink, silver or gold. If you already have flower beds, this can be important. The purchased "bush" should be planted almost immediately; pampas grass will successfully take root already at the end of March. The planting hole should be dug slightly wider than the root system of the plant. It is advisable to pour compost on the bottom - so the cordateria will get used to it faster. The plant must not be buried too deep - the underground part may begin to rot.
