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(Austroderia richardii)
New Zealand Pampas Grass (Austroderia richardii)
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John Barkla
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
John Barkla
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: John Barkla | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: John Barkla | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2019-03-23T15:08:10-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Austroderia richardii, commonly known as New Zealand Pampas Grass, is an evergreen perennial grass native to tussock grasslands, river terraces, and coastal cliffs in Southern New Zealand. It can grow to a height of 1.5 to 3 meters with sharp-edged leaves that are 1 meter long and 2 to 5 cm wide, earning it the nickname "cutty grass" due to the fine, sharp teeth along the leaf edges. The leaves are coarse, green, flat, and narrow, with upright flowering culms reaching 2.5 meters tall. The flower head is often one-sided and drooping, with many fine hanging branches containing small clusters of flowers encased in soft, hairy scales. It flowers in spring and early summer (September to November), with its plumes persisting on the plant. The fruiting stage occurs from October to March.
New Zealand Pampas Grass is valued for its silvery white inflorescences that emerge in summer and remain attractive into winter, providing long-lasting visual interest. It is used as a windbreak, particularly in rural settings, and has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its ornamental qualities. This grass is adaptable to a range of light conditions, doing best in part shade, and is tolerant of various soil types with different drainage rates. While it is hardy and can withstand diverse weather conditions, it is important to handle with care due to the sharp leaf edges. In some regions, it can become invasive, so it should be planted with caution outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0
New Zealand Pampas Grass is valued for its silvery white inflorescences that emerge in summer and remain attractive into winter, providing long-lasting visual interest. It is used as a windbreak, particularly in rural settings, and has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its ornamental qualities. This grass is adaptable to a range of light conditions, doing best in part shade, and is tolerant of various soil types with different drainage rates. While it is hardy and can withstand diverse weather conditions, it is important to handle with care due to the sharp leaf edges. In some regions, it can become invasive, so it should be planted with caution outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 3-7 feet
- Width: 3-7 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Native to tussock grasslands, river terraces, and coastal cliffs in Southern New Zealand
Other Names
Common Names: Pampas Grass, Toetoe
Scientific Names: , Austroderia richardii, Cortaderia richardii, Arundo kakao, Gynerium zeelandicum, Arundo richardii,
GBIF Accepted Name: Austroderia richardii (Endl.) N.P.Barker & H.P.Linder