Our obsession with pampas grass is costing the environment six alternatives to cut and dry

Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is enjoying another moment in the sun thanks to a rise in modern interior trends, including Japandi, minimalism, and dried flower arrangements.  

The South American native, popular for its silver-beige feathery plumes, was once ubiquitous in front gardens of the 1970s, but drastically fell out of favour, along with flared jeans and chain smoking. 

There was also an urban myth that the swaying plumes found in swathes of suburbia were a giveaway sign that the homeowners were swingers: an unfortunate association that had a dramatic impact on sales of the grass. 

In 2017, Palmstead Nurseries in Kent reported that sales had dropped to 250 plants per year, as opposed to 550 in 2011, while other nurseries reported that the plant was regularly voted the least popular ornamental grass online. 

But fast forward to 2021 and the public has all but forgotten pampas' dubious past. Back in March, just as the lockdown was announced, British flower growers – who found themselves in turmoil after the wedding and events industry came to an abrupt standstill – were forced to resort to drying their crops of cut flowers and calling them "everlastings" to bolster dwindling sales.

The ensuing social media posts of dried arrangements featuring pampas, Miscanthus and fern (Tracheophyta) were an instant hit with homeowners looking for low-maintenance floral arrangements. 

Though you're much more likely to find pampas grass sold as cut stems these days, rather than for planting (those swinging rumours, like the plant itself, never die), there are more compelling reasons to consider alternative grasses for planting, cutting and drying for your own dried arrangements. 

When planted in the garden, pampas grass is a devil to get out. Famed for its tough roots, which are not only tight and spongy but can grow up to 3.5 metres long, killing the plant is best left to a garden contractor – unless you fancy razor cuts from the foliage and fatigue. The grass is also incredibly competitive and restricts the establishment of native trees. 

Across the pond and along the coast of California, the Coast Ranges, Central Valley, Western Transverse Ranges, and Mojave Desert, pampas grass is now considered an invasive species. First introduced in Santa Barbara in 1848 as an ornamental plant and for erosion control, the plant quickly colonised the area and threatened native plants. Some regions, such as Southern California and Hawaii, have banned it from sale or cultivation.

For the same reasons that the US introduced pampas, here in the UK, the grass is planted along the coast to prevent sand dunes from collapsing. But that doesn't seem to stop dried-flower enthusiasts from stealing the ever-so-Instagrammable stems. At one point, the plume pinching got so bad that, on January 18, South Tyneside Council warned visitors not to take cuttings from the South Shields seafront. 

'We have been made aware of residents picking plants and grasses including pampas grass from the seafront. Can we please ask residents that while it may look pretty in their homes these plants are planted specifically to protect our coastline and is important to the overall ecosystem,' the council wrote on Facebook. 

"I was surprised when I heard that pampas was regaining a little popularity," says Neil Lucas, owner of Knoll Gardens, a specialist grower of ornamental grasses, and author of Designing with Grasses (£23, Timber Press). 

"It is clump forming and can spread by seed, making it a major pest in warmer climates. While in theory, any plant that sets seed can be considered a threat, there are tall grasses that are more elegant such as Miscanthus, Panicum and Calamagrostis, and do not appear to pose the same threat. All of these will dry wonderfully and I often put a vase of Molinia caerulea in the house over winter. It is native and beautiful." 

When asked about the resurgence of dried grasses, Phoebe Mulrooney, founder of Phohm, a dried flower emporium which opened this summer in Brighton, noted a return to slow life as the cause. "People are wanting to create a more inspiring environment at home and I wanted to create bouquets with the intention of permanence," she says.

Though pampas grass remains a popular choice, Mulrooney recommends Miscanthus (Chinese silvergrass),  Lagurus (Hare's Tail Grass), bracken ferns and palms for cutting and drying. 

Jenna Spavin, owner of Florist Rookie, a florist based in Manchester, was able to set up her business in September this year, thanks to a surge of recent demand. After returning from Melbourne, Australia, in March 2020, Spavin set up her business using everlastings like dried grasses and flowers. 

"Dried grasses are great because they don't need any water or maintenance, and people are choosing alternatives to pampas," she says. "I've been working with feather reed grasses (Calamagrostis acutiflora) because they don't shed as much and you can still get that fluffy grassy effect. I also like canary grass (Phalaris canariensis)."

For an on-trend minimalistic look, Spavin uses Stipa pennata, otherwise known as European feather grass, because it comes with a naturally bleached effect. Most of her grasses are bought wholesale from Black Shed Flowers, a member of Flowers from the Farm, and seasonal cut flower farm run by Paul and Helen Stickland, in Sherborne, Dorset. 

If you're a novice, it's best to buy bunches of dried grasses from florists (who likely need your custom more than ever) instead of nicking stems from the beach. But if you're planning on cutting and drying your own blooms, the latest in a series of masterclasses hosted by Mulrooney is brilliant for beginners. This dried flower arranging online tutorial is a practical masterclass in how to create a professional quality everlasting display at home (flowers and vase are provided; shipped direct to participants in advance.)

How to dry grass

Florist Jenna Spavin offers her tips on the best way to dry grass. 

• Gather grasses from outside on a sunny day with little moisture in the air. 
• Cut the grass stems as long as possible and ensure the flowers (if using) are fully open.
• Find a cool and dry space (too much sun will bleach the flowers) to hang; I like using the airing cupboard because the darkness will prevent the flowers from fading, while dryness will prevent mould. 
• Gather the grasses in bunches and tie together using string and hang upside down. 
• Check on the grasses every few days. Depending on the variety, they should be ready in a few weeks.

Six alternative grasses to plant for cutting and drying 

David Allen of Meadows Gate Nursery, an award-winning independent grower of ornamental grasses in West Sussex, offers his favourite grasses for cutting and drying at home. 

Miscanthus sinensis 'Dronning Ingrid'

Stipa gigantea 'Golden Oats'

Lagurus ovatus (Hare's Tail Grass) 

Panicum virgatum 'Red Metal'

Molinia caerulea (Purple Moor Grass) 

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

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