Plants diurnal

Whitegrass

Cortaderia pilosa

The shimmering soul of the southern moorlands, Whitegrass is a resilient tussock that provides shelter and beauty in the face of the wind. Its silvery plumes create a dramatic backdrop for the hardy wildlife of the sub-Antarctic.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Height of 30-60 cm (12-24 in), with flowering plumes reaching up to 1 meter (3.3 ft)

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Colors

Pale green to golden-straw foliage with distinctive silvery-white or cream flowering plumes

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Key Features

Dense, hummock-forming tussock growth habit
Silvery, silky flower panicles (plumes)
Narrow, folded leaves that are often hairy
Dominant ground cover in southern moorlands

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours Daylight hours

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Season December-February

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Diet Photosynthetic; it converts sunlight into energy while absorbing water and minerals from acidic, peaty soils.

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Habitat Open moorlands, acidic grasslands, and wind-swept coastal heathlands.

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Behavior

Whitegrass is a hardy, perennial tussock grass that serves as the ecological backbone of the South Atlantic islands and southern Patagonia. Unlike the sprawling lawns of suburban areas, Whitegrass grows in dense, springy mounds that can survive the harshest sub-Antarctic winds. It is a slow-growing species that has adapted perfectly to acidic, nutrient-poor peaty soils where few other plants can thrive.

In its native ecosystem, Whitegrass is a foundational species. It creates a complex physical structure on the ground, offering protection to smaller plants and serving as a vital microhabitat for invertebrates. While it is often used as rough grazing for livestock, its high fiber content and tough blades make it a resilient survivor that remains standing even after heavy frosts or snow.

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Camera Tips

When using a trail camera to document life around Whitegrass, remember that the grass itself is the 'stage' for wildlife activity. Position your camera at a low height—roughly 6 to 12 inches off the ground—to capture the small birds and mammals that use the tussocks for cover. Because the blades and plumes move easily in the wind, set your camera's PIR (motion) sensitivity to 'Low' or 'Medium' to prevent the wind-blown grass from triggering hundreds of false-positive photos.

The silvery-white plumes of Whitegrass are highly reflective. During the night, your camera’s infrared (IR) flash can hit these plumes and cause a 'white-out' effect, obscuring any animals in the frame. To avoid this, angle your camera so the largest plumes are in the background or at the periphery of the shot, rather than directly in front of the lens. Using a camera with 'No-Glow' IR can also help in reducing the harshness of the reflection on the pale grass blades.

For the best results, look for 'wildlife highways'—flattened paths or gaps between the Whitegrass hummocks where animals like penguins, foxes, or ground-nesting birds regularly travel. Set your camera to 'Hybrid Mode' (photo followed by video) to capture both the presence and the behavior of animals as they navigate the dense grass. If you are interested in the plant's life cycle, a long-term timelapse (one photo every 4 hours) from December through February will beautifully document the emergence and swaying of the iconic silver plumes.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Whitegrass.

Pampas Grass

Significantly larger with plumes that can reach 3 meters high, whereas Whitegrass stays close to the ground.

Cinnamon Grass

Distinguishable by its wide, flat leaves and a distinct sweet, spice-like scent when crushed.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a plant, Whitegrass is most biologically active during the day when it can perform photosynthesis. From a photography perspective, it is most 'active' and visually stunning during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset when the wind catches its silvery plumes.

To grow Whitegrass, you need acidic, well-draining, and peaty soil. It thrives in cool, temperate climates with plenty of wind and moisture. In a backyard setting, it serves as an excellent structural plant that provides nesting material and cover for ground-dwelling birds.

Whitegrass doesn't 'eat' in the animal sense; it is an autotroph. It produces its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water, and is specially adapted to extract nitrogen and minerals from poor, acidic soils.

Whitegrass is common in its native range of the Falkland Islands and southern South America, but it is rarely found in typical suburban landscaping elsewhere. It is occasionally used in specialized coastal or rock gardens that mimic sub-Antarctic conditions.

While both belong to the Cortaderia genus, Whitegrass (C. pilosa) is much smaller and forms tighter, lower tussocks compared to the massive, towering clumps of common Pampas Grass (C. selloana).

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