Cortaderia sp.
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Cortaderia sp. is a non-native California perennial in the Poaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Cenchrus: Cortaderia has huge silvery plumes up to 3 feet; Cenchrus has small spiky seed heads.; vs Miscanthus: Cortaderia forms massive 10-foot clumps with 3-foot plumes; Miscanthus is smaller with smaller seed heads.; vs Carex: Cortaderia has enormous feathery plumes; Carex has small brownish spikelets without showy plumes.; vs Leymus: Cortaderia has massive clumps with huge feathery plumes; Leymus has wheat-like spikes.; vs Muhlenbergia: Cortaderia forms 10-foot clumps with 3-foot plumes; Muhlenbergia is much smaller and delicate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cortaderia sp. native to California?
No. Cortaderia sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Cortaderia sp. belong to?
Cortaderia sp. is in the Poaceae family, genus Cortaderia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.