The dwarf pampas grass when in sheath does not look like the larger varieties. Most tend to be more sparse and more muddy in colour

Thank you orchidguy for the info.

I did some further research on the internet and one site states that pampas grass flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant) and that only the female plants produce those large plume-like flowers.

It looks like I might have the male plant which would explain the sheaths you describe. I wish I'd known that before buying it.

Helene (canadian daisy)