Pampas grass is a South American perennial grass that originates in Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Pampas grass can reach heights of 10 feet with colorful plumes atop stalks high above the foliage, which can reach six feet in width. Landscapers and homeowners looking for a splash of color often one of several varieties. Caution should be used with pampas grass because it is an invasive species and can crowd or choke out native foliage.

Andes Silver

Identify this type of pampas grass by its silvery white plumes. Look for stalks up to 7 feet tall. It resembles the Sundale Silver variety but is shorter and less vibrant in color.

Bertini

Identify this type of pampas grass by its compact growth, which is less than four feet in height. This is one of the dwarf varieties of pampas grass and works well in smaller spaces for landscaping.

Gold Band

Identify this type of pampas grass by the golden stripe on the foliage. Look for a 4- to 6-foot high stalk. This type of pampas grass is more compact and more erect than the Monvin variety of pampas grass. This variety also has variations in leaf shape compared to others.

Monvin

Look for this type of pampas grass to have yellow stripes on the leaves. This variety is also marketed as Sunstripe.

Patagonia

Look for this variety of pampas grass to have silvery-white plumes with bluish gray-green foliage. Also identify this variety by plumes 7 feet above the foliage.

Pumila

Identify this variety of pampas grass by its compact form, only growing five 5 to 7 feet tall. Look for showy bright plumes that rise above the foliage. This is one of the dwarf varieties of pampas grass and can be used in tight spaces during landscaping.

Pink Feather

Identify this type of pampas grass by the pink blush on its large plumes. This makes it one of the more colorful varieties of pampas grass.

Silver Comet

Look for white stripes on this variety of pampas grass. Identify the stalks by their height which reaches up to 8 feet tall. This type of pampas grass resembles a giant version of overgrown lawn grass.

Sundale Silver

Look for silver white plumes on this type of pampas grass, one of the more spectacular types to look at. Identify this variety by its stalks growing to 10 feet high.