How to Dry Pampas Grass: 3 Steps for Pampas Grass Décor

Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is a type of reed grass from South America that grows feathery plumes. It looks similar to the bunny tail grass native to the Mediterranean Basin—both descend from the Poaceae plant family. You can find both pink pampas and white pampas grass out in the wild. It ranges in color from one planting to the next, but it’s almost always as light in tint as it is in weight.

Pampas grass is quite invasive. Its ability to grow quickly is due in part to its extensive root system; the rapidly growing reeds can choke out other nearby plants. If you manage the grass properly, however, it won’t cause many problems. Plenty of gardeners grow pampas grass specifically to trim its flowers and use them for home décor.

You should dry and air out natural pampas grass so it won’t shed once indoors. You can sidestep the drying process by purchasing faux pampas grass plants; however, drying the plants is quite simple. Regardless, you’ll want to fully dry your pampas grass before using them in floral arrangements indoors. If you don’t, they can cause quite a mess.

To use dried pampas grass décor for interior design, you must dry it first. Follow these three simple steps so you can decorate your home with pampas grass:

1. 1. Cut the grass. Before you dry out the grass, you’ll need to cut it to your desired length. You should cut pampas grass with tough garden shears—their reedy stems are fairly thick. Consider what sort of vase you’ll store these fluffy and fresh flowers in when deciding on the precise length to which you need to shear them.
2. 2. Dry the grass. The key to drying this plant is increasing air circulation one way or another, and the main goal should be to get the plant to shed as much as possible before bringing it indoors. For natural dried pampas grass, shake out the flowers and then use twine or rubber bands to make a flower bouquet. Hang it upside down somewhere in an airy but dry place—you can use a hanger, a tree branch, or anything else that will work. After two weeks, take down the bouquet and shake the dried flowers afterward, too. For a quicker, artificial, and DIY method, blow-dry the plants extensively.
3. 3. Spray the grass. Now that your pampas grass plumes are dry, use hairspray to fluff them up and keep them in place. You should take the flower arrangements out sporadically—every couple of weeks or so—to respray them. Use them for tabletop centerpieces in your living room, wedding décor, or any other purpose you see fit.

From making a bouquet to creating table arrangements, Maurice Harris will help you tap into your creativity through flower design. Gain access to exclusive lessons from Maurice with the MasterClass Annual Membership.