My Deer Garden

Is Pampas Grass deer resistant?

Cortaderia selloana

Tall white plumes of pampas grass
Photo by JLPC, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Rarely damaged

Deer almost always leave this alone.

Rating source: Rutgers NJAES E271

Plant typeOrnamental grassHardinessZones 6–10LightFull sun
Mature height72–144 in
BloomSummer and Fall and Winter
MaintenanceHigh, wants regular attention

About Pampas Grass

Huge white plumes on a clump that becomes immovable. The leaf edges are genuinely sharp enough to cut, so keep it away from paths. Invasive in California and the Pacific Northwest.

Soil and care

Soil pH
5.5 to 7.5
Drainage
Well drained
Water
Low
Spacing
71 to 118 in apart
Growth rate
Fast
Maintenance
High

Similar to Pampas Grass

Other ornamental grasss with the same deer rating.

Where Pampas Grass grows

Hardy across most of these 46 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.

Browse from here

Every list Pampas Grass belongs to.

Hardy in these zones

Common questions about Pampas Grass

Is Pampas Grass deer resistant?
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
What hardiness zones does Pampas Grass grow in?
Pampas Grass is hardy in USDA zones 6 to 10. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
Does Pampas Grass grow in shade?
No. Pampas Grass wants full sun and will grow thin and flop in shade.
How big does Pampas Grass get?
Mature height is roughly 72–144 in. Growth rate is fast.