Cortaderia selloana 'Splendid Star'

Traditional pampas grass is a familiar sight in the grounds of many stately homes, but it's often too big and bulky for many smaller gardens. Fortunately, this recently introduced dwarf variety has revived interest in this plant and it's being used more frequently by gardeners look for something a bit different. The plant retains its leaves throughout the year and has delicate, golden-green leaves that give a garden a modern, prairie-style look. It produces tall, feather-like white flowers in late summer that will double the height of the plant, although it rarely reaches higher than 1.2m (4ft).