Not a week goes by without me receiving a quote request for ‘that fluffy stuff in my Pinterest photos’. That fluffy stuff is called Pampas Grass … and while there is no denying it looks beautiful in photos, unfortunately it’s not just an innocent flower or grass. Popular in the 1970’s and resurfacing again in recent years, pampas grass is now considered a noxious weed. So please, pull up a chair, ‘cos I’m about to get all educational on ya!

So here’s the official stuff: according to the Urban Bushland Council of WA, Pampas Grass (Cortaderia elloana) is a large, perennial weed that can grow to 4m and is often found in wetter areas, especially on swampy ground. It was originally introduced as a garden specimen from South America, but it is now considered to be a Pest Plant under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976.

The WA Dept of Agriculture advises it has invaded sunny, swampy sites from Perth to Albany, where local councils have now made it the subject of an eradication campaign. Pampas grass plumes can hold up to 100,000 seeds – in each and every plume – and our beautiful south west breezes are carrying these seeds humongous distances, spreading it far and wide.

Removing large plants is virtually impossible, requiring a back-hoe operator to dig it out, or a highly-toxic glyphosate-based herbicide. And now here’s the environmental stuff: this weed is a serious weed of wetlands and is capable of altering vegetation structure and decreasing diversity of invertebrate and vertebrate fauna. In plain English, this means it is taking over our native bushland and swamps; it is outcompeting our native plant species; and it’s reducing fodder for our native wildlife. It is also a fire hazard and harbours vermin.

In NSW it is now an offence to grow, sell or buy pampas grass and there is a $10,000 fine for anyone found breaking this law. I know of florists who have already been fined. Similar laws could soon be introduced in WA too.

So why should you care? Because I care!!! As a professional florist, I consider myself to be one of mother nature’s guardians. I am privileged to work with the most beautiful blooms and foliage every week, but if I don’t give a damn about our environment, and share the knowledge I have with you, the general public, then there will soon be no beautiful blooms to work with!

And if we continue to ignore the dangers of working with this noxious weed; by taking it onto rural properties, or into native forests, heck even into restaurants/breweries/wineries for weddings and events … and just standing by watching as the south west breezes blow millions of seed heads onto neighbouring properties, farms and bushland areas, then we are only exacerbating the problem.

Yes, you will continue to see pics all over Pinterest and insta for some time, from our European and American friends (who haven’t yet acknowledged the problem with this weed), and there are still unfortunately so many uneducated florists, stylists and home hobbyists in Australia continuing to use it too … but I am unapologetically refusing to use it in any of my future designs. I would rather say no to your money, than compromise our beautiful bushland and native environment.

But … the great news is there are alternatives!!! If you love the whole boho style, then don’t be afraid to ask me (or any other florist for that matter), what they recommend. There are so many other great ideas out there, and any florist worth their salt will be able to provide these for you. If they can’t, move on. Who knows … we may create a new trend together 😊

Side note: if you scroll far enough through my past work, you will see two occasions where I have used pampas grass at the request of my clients. I am now far more educated than I was back then, and I have refused to work with it for some time now.