Pasture Watch

Pest pampas

Why is it a weed?

Invades hill country, roadsides, and drains, competes with desirable grazing species

Where is it found?

Throughout NZ, mostly in marginal areas – the purple pampas variety is more common in the North Island

Is it toxic?

No

Other uses

For decoration, often used in outdoor weddings

PAMPAS GRASS (Cortaderia selloana) was introduced to New Zealand in the 1920s. It was planted for animal shelter and even fed to cattle in the 1950s. In the 1930s, purple pampas (Cortaderia jubata) was brought here as a garden plant.

The problem with pampas grasses is how quickly they spread, smothering vast areas of pasture.

They love to grow in disturbed areas: beside roadsides, broken soil, slips, and sparse areas of hill country. New forestry plantations and sensitive nature reserves are particularly at risk.

Pampas are perennial tussock plants that produce hairy, wind-borne seeds each year and spread quickly if left unmanaged.

How to control it

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Avoid buying hay from farms with pampas.

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Maintain soil fertility so pasture species can out-compete any seeds that blow in.

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Running a large mob of stock over pasture containing small pampas can prevent them from becoming established. •

Spot spray with glyphosate.

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If you pull small plants out, turn them upside down, hang them from a fence, or bag them, otherwise they can re-root.