Hawaii's Most Invasive Horticultural Plants

pampas grass Cortaderia jubata and Cortaderia selloana

(Photo credit: Walter Stahel)

(Photo credit: Arthur C. Medeiros [USGS/BRD])

Description:	Giant perennial tussock grass 5-15' tall with 1-3' plume-like flower heads.
Risk areas:	Disturbed areas, clearings, sand dunes, roadsides, grasslands, pastures, alpine shrublands.
WARNING:	These two species are very difficult to distinguish from each other. Both have proven highly invasive of native ecosystems elsewhere and are beginning to spread in Hawaii. CORTADERIA JUBATA IS LEGALLY DECLARED A NOXIOUS WEED IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. SALE OR TRANSPORT IS ILLEGAL!