It’s been the darling of the Instagram wedding scene for a while now, its feathery plumes adding texture to rose-studded arches and creating a jaw-dropping effect when bundled and dangled upside-down like the softest chandelier you ever did see.
Meet pampas grass, the weed that just won’t quit being ‘grammed.
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By now you’ve likely seen images of pampas grass pretty much, well, everywhere. Pampas grass is native to South America and looks a lot like wheat. It can grow up to 10 feet tall and is technically invasive, banned in Hawaii, South Africa, and parts of New Zealand, where last May, “weed officers” raided florists who had been illegally importing it across borders, even from California (where it originates in the U.S.). “Pampasgrass” has been hashtagged 374k times, up from 31k in late 2018, which is when we can pinpoint its launch to the mainstream wedding circuit in the U.S. All thanks to Mandy Moore.
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After Moore’s boho backyard wedding in November 2018, photos flooded the Internet showing the This Is Us star gliding down the vintage rug aisle, wearing a custom pink tulle collared dress by Rodarte and flanked by chest-high pampas in shades of blush and its natural neutral hue (which the Knot refers to as “wheat sheaves”—it is pampas grass). And Instagram went wild.
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So what makes pampas grass so great for elopements and weddings, besides the fact that it’s so visually appealing and oddly calming to look at? Here you go.
- Pampas grass is super versatile, as much at home in an arch on the beach (it grows in sand) as it is in a barn wedding, or, as demonstrated by Moore, the backyard.
- It’s eco-friendly, since it won’t die as regular flowers would and can be repurposed from your ceremony to your home.
- The grass will last forever—if you hairspray the plumes (use something eco-friendly), which also prevents its seeds from dropping.
- It’s incredibly cheap. Find the poofy wonders on Amazon (60, 20-inch pieces for $20); Etsy (5, 34-inch stems for $26); or The Greenhouse (pink pampas that can also be planted for $25).
