Saccharum ravennae or Northern Pampas Grass is a tough, hardy, tall grass plant that substitutes for Pampas Grass in northern climates. Here’s how to grow it easily.
Flowering
The flowering on this grass is a dull, muddy white (almost a beige) and not the clear white (or light pink) you’re looking for with the southerly Pampas grass.
Growing Conditions
- This is a plant of damp and rich soils. And that’s the key to growing it well.
- Full sun is best although a light afternoon shade won’t slow the growth rates down.
- This is a tall grass reaching 6-8 feet easily.
- The plumes in catalogs are described as silvery-white but personally, I find it to be a muddy white and not overly attractive.
- Hardy to USDA zone 4/5. I note it is hardier in damper soils than if you try to grow it in a drier soil (been there – killed this one).
- Propagation
By division in the early spring is best although fall will work. It will self-sow if happy.
Landscape Use
This plant will not perform well in the regular perennial border as it requires a very damp soil to thrive.
If you want the height and flower of this plant to show itself off, you’ll do best to provide a large damp or bog-style garden for it. Soils that are allowed to dry out will not give it the conditions it desires.
In this sense, it is not a substitute for southern pampas grass although it is often sold that way in garden centers.
You can find other articles on perennial flowers here.
Ron Sarkisian
Wow, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden website page for Saccharum ravennae: “Best grown in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Will not thrive in moist and/or fertile soils where it usually needs support.” I certainly trust your experience, Doug, but these diametrically opposed plant care descriptions can drive a gardener batty!
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a410
Doug
Ron – you’re right about the vast difference in experience. I know up here it’s a wetland kind of grass – I wonder if Missouri has a different hardiness effect because of the climate difference? We have something similar to what I mean with Japanese Blood Grass. If we grow it dead dry during the winter, it might survive in our USDA 4 but if you give it any moisture, you’d better be a zone or two south for “consistent” survival.