One of today’s most coveted interior decor items does well to bring about a whimsical, aesthetic touch of nature to any modern home with its natural beige or pink hue and feature-like foliage.
Instagram and Pinterest are credited with bringing pampas grass into vogue after it appeared in a series of wedding photos over a short amount of time. The flora is defined by long stems and a plumed, fluffy head, and it undoubtedly looks stunning propped up in a ceramic vase in the corner of a room against the morning light.
But pampas grass, though widely available in florists worldwide, is actually, in fact, an invasive noxious weed that threatens native Australian species, harbours vermin and presents a huge fire risk.
Native to South America, pampas grass houses around 100,000 seeds in its flower heads, and these are known to spread in a 25-kilometre radius from light winds. Fluffy and feather-like, the heads are incredibly flammable and it’s said any florist found selling the grass in banned areas will be slapped with a hefty fine.
It is illegal to sell in parts of New South Wales that include greater Sydney and the Hunter region but interior obsessives and those desperate to decorate wedding venues in line with their pinned inspo have found a way to get their hands on it regardless.
Sellers are widespread and active on eBay, Etsy and Facebook Marketplace, but with the grass being a biohazard, it’s recommended those who wish to emulate the look of pampas in their own places should instead opt for artificial lookalikes.
Rogue, available at Myer, has a fairly conviving range of faux pampas grass, that when styled in a tall vase look shockingly close to the real deal.