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Jubata Grass

Cortaderia jubata

Plant Description

Jubata grass, also called Andean pampas grass, is one of the most aggressive invasive grasses along the Oregon coast. Introduced as an ornamental, it quickly escaped cultivation and now spreads by producing enormous numbers of wind-dispersed seeds—each plant capable of releasing hundreds of thousands annually. Unlike pampas grass, jubata grass reproduces without pollination, making every plant a prolific seed source. It establishes dense, towering clumps that displace native coastal vegetation, destabilize dunes and bluffs, and create heavy fuel loads that increase wildfire risk. Because of its rapid spread and ability to colonize even undisturbed habitats, jubata grass poses a significant ecological threat in Oregon, especially in sensitive coastal ecosystems.

Jubata grass is perennial and has long flat basal leaves with sharp serrated edges. The bright green leaves arise from tufted base. Tall pinkish-to-purple flower plumes form at end of very long stems. Jubata grass has stems generally at least two times as long as tufted base height. It is B-listed by ODA.

Plant Details

Life Forms	Grass or Grass-like
Habitats	Disturbed sites Ditches Forest openings Grasslands Little Habitats Residential yards Roadsides
ODA Listing	B
Soil and Moisture Conditions	Moist
Suggested Actions	Report to Oregon Invasives Hotline Use BMPs to control on private property
Shade Preference	Full shade Full sun Part shade
Mature Height	6-12'
Distribution	Mostly found along the coast of CA and southern OR. Found sporatically throughout the rest of the US.
Control	Pull seedlings, cut larger plants and remove root mass. Cut before seeds mature.
Disposal Methods	Turn uprooted plant upside down and leave in a dry place. Cover seed heads thoroughly to prevent wind dispersal. Alternatively bag seed heads and remove.
Reproduction and Spread	Female plants reproduce seed, thousands of which are identical to the parent plant and spread via wind. Can also spread vegetatively from tillers or fragments of mature plants into moist soils.
Introduced	Native to Argentina and the Andes.
Look Alikes	Pampas grass, blue oat grass, Chinese silver grass, feather reed grass, muhly grass
Impact	Converts shrublands into grasslands, can prevent forest re-establishment in forests that have been burned or distrubed. Colonizes roadsides and graded areas.
More Info	https://www.cal-ipc.org/docs/ip/management/wwh/pdf/19648.pdf https://www.oregon.gov/oda/shared/Documents/Publications/Weeds/JubataGrassProfile.pdf