Pampas grass

Pampas grass is traditionally grown as a specimen in the middle of a lawn, but also looks good grown in a shrub border as a giant ornamental grass. In a large garden it is also outstanding planted in informal drifts amongst trees, and it makes a good intruder-proof boundary due to its sharp edged evergreen leaves. Plants are best tidied annually to keep them free from debris which otherwise builds up and chokes out new growth. The plumes can be cut and dried for flower arranging, but are superb left in the garden where they look lovely rimed with frost in the winter. 'Sunningdale Silver' has strong stems and dense plumes which stand up to the worst of the weather The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).