pampas grass

noun

pam·​pas grass ˈpam-pəz- How to pronounce pampas grass (audio)
-pəs-, 
ˈpäm-
: a South American grass (Cortaderia selloana) often grown for ornament that has showy white panicles borne on tall stems

Examples of pampas grass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The city is aiming to build a fence and plant billowy pampas grass around the chicken, hoping to create the illusion of the bird sitting in a nest. — Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 16 June 2023 It’s crafted with a mix of golden wheat, pampas grass, and delicate flowers to add texture to your space without overwhelming the color scheme. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025 Particularly fire-prone plants include eucalyptus, acacia, evergreens with fine needles, pampas grass and palms. — The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026 Do not plant highly flammable shrubs and trees, not even dwarf varieties in an urban environment, especially arborvitae, bamboo, broom, cedar, cypress, juniper, pampas grass, rabbitbrush or sagebrush. — Jeastman, oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2023 See All Example Sentences for pampas grass

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pampas grass was circa 1851

Rhymes for pampas grass

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Browse Nearby Words

pampas fox
pampas grass
pampas hare
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pampas grass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pampas%20grass. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pampas grass

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pampas grass

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