Pampas Grass is the fifth of seven desert plants that I recommend for people who want desert plants that are perennial (you need to plant them only once), hardy, low care, relatively drought resistant, easy to find, and pretty cheap to buy--this is the only one of the seven here that doesn't have colorful flowers.
The botanical name for pampas grass is Cortaderia. It is a giant evergreen grass. It is a fast grower, and when it flowers there will be long stalks with plumes that rise up from the plant. Pampas grass is not picky about its soil, and can take full desert sun. You won't see pampas grass on many lists of recommended desert garden shrubs, but I like it! It isn't dirty, and it's got a great soft, deserty look to it. Pampas grass makes a nice barrier, so it can be planted around a spa or can be used to take up a big corner space. Pampas grass doesn't require much care, but it does need a haircut now and then. Remember, pampas grass grows to be large, so make sure you have the space to let it spread out.
