Andean Pampas Grass
e.g. Jubata Grass
Cortaderia jubata
Grass family
Where is it from?
- Pampas grass is native to South America.
Where are you likely to find it?
- It is used as an ornamental in landscaping.
- There are two species, Cortaderia selloana and Cortaderia
jubata. Cortaderia selloana (true Pampas grass) can be a
problem along the central and southern California coast. Cortaderia
jubata (Jubata grass or Andean Pampas grass) is highly invasive
throughout coastal California.
- Andean Pampas/Jubata grass colonizes bare and disturbed ground.
It invades roadsides, cutbanks, dunes, coastal bluffs,
rock outcrops, landslides and logged lands. It cannot
survive in the shade of the redwood forest. Unlike Scotch
broom, it does not easily colonize native grasslands.
- Andean Pampas/Jubata grass is common in the Redwood National and
State Parks. Plants are visible on the Tall Trees Access
Road and near the Redwood Information Center in Orick.
What makes it a "BAD" plant?
- Andean Pampas/Jubata grass is a large, conspicuous plant
that distracts from the unique visual landscapes of the area.
- Plants produces millions of seeds that develop without pollination.
- It is an aggressive colonizer that competes with native vegetation.
It can displace native coastal dune, shrub, and estuarine vegetation,
and it slows early forest re-growth on logged lands.
- Its large, showy plumes distract from appreciation of the natural
landscapes and native flora that inspired establishing the redwood parks.
- Andean Pampas/Jubata grass is a threat to the integrity of
coastal dune, shrub and estuarine ecosystems.
How do you get rid of it?
- Pulling or digging out the plants while small is best. Small
ones are easily pulled by hand when the soil is moist. Winter
and spring are good seasons. A pulaski and shovel are useful
when a plant is too large to pull safely by hand.
- The mature plants are very difficult to remove by hand. It is
possible to undercut and remove one using a combination of
pulaski and shovel, but it takes a long time. The easiest way
is to place a choker cable around the plant's base and pull
it out with a winch. If the choker slips off the plant, dig
around the base for a better grip and try again. The soil
must be moist. Winter and spring are good seasons. After
removal, turn the plant upside down so that the roots no
longer touch the ground. Re-check every few months for
contact. Unless able to take root again, the plant will die.
- Cutting the plumes off and placing them in bags helps to
prevent further seed dispersal. The plumes cannot be cut
and left on bare ground. The seeds will sprout.
- Providing an environment conducive to rapid growth of
native trees soon produces shade adequate to exclude
Pampas grass. The quality of environment for growth of
natives is improved by reducing Pampas grass' competition.
What can you do to help?
- Discourage people from picking the plumes and waving them
around, transporting them in vehicles or attaching them
to their radio antenna. These plumes are full of viable
seeds which will be dispersed everywhere!
- To get even more involved in control of exotic species,
sign up as a Volunteer in Parks (VIP).
- CAUTION: Do not remove plants without permission
in writing or direction from the land owner, manager or,
if on public lands, an agency official.
