Grass and Bamboo: Grass ID please, 1 by ButterflyChaser

ButterflyChaser wrote:
Yes, that sounds right. The hardy pampas is the ravenna. If you like the grassy look of it, then grow it. But the plumes are nothing you'll oooh and ahh over. The white pampas is the one with the fantastic plumes--the ones people dry for floral decor.

Do you have a microclimate in your yard that is warmer in the winter than other parts--maybe something on a slight slope where it would be well-draining in the winter? Something maybe on the South side of your house in full sun? You can always create your own slope--just put the pampas grass on top of the ground and mound soil over the roots, rather than digging a hole for it. If you'll add sand to your soil, it will drain better. And then it might survive your winter.

I use this method with plants that are zone 8 hardy. (I'm zone 7) The pink pampas is hardy in zone 8, but I'm trying it again this year in my microclimate, planted as described above. I'm moving my cannas there too since I lost so many of them this past winter. I have an asparagus fern, considered a zone 9 plant, that survived outside in this microclimate even during these past two winters which were worse than most other winters we have had. I couldn't believe it. But it's planted in an area that stays pretty dry, even when it rains, in full sun, on the South side of my house, pretty close to the house. I planted it out there one summer when I decided to whittle down my houseplant collection, not caring if it lived or died. And that rascal has been hardier than some of my zone 7 and 8 plants!

Maybe that's the trick--plant it and let it know you don't care if it lives or dies. Then it will live just to spite you. LOL

Here's a picture of the hardy pampas I grew and hated.