Last year I bought a white Pampas grass which established itself well and grew beautifully and produced 4 plumes. This year, there is no sign of life from the plant. Is it dead? I removed the old growth sometime in late March or so, along with the Miscanthus Purpurascens. When does Pampas grass break dormancy? I am in Zone 7a.

It might have frozen to death.

That's a depressing thought. We did not even have a terrible winter like the other two previous years. These were marked as hardy to 6 in the nursery. Any idea when these things break dormancy? My hybiscus only started a few days ago, but it's taken off. Still no signs of like on the pampas grass.

Did you have a lot of rain over the winter? Depending on the drainage, soil, and the amount of rain the crowns may have rotted. I would think you should see some hint of new growth by now. Maybe try dividing one or lifting one to see if the roots were eaten by moles/voles/gophers, if the ground was too wet, or if the roots are healthy and it is just slow to return.

I have tried it a couple of times in northwest NJ which is now zone 6 and it has not overwintered.

"moles voles and gophers"-- I am in monmouth county and I have a gopher that's trying to make its home here. I guess I will try to lift a section up and see what happened. It is a very tight clump. The soil drains very well there and I can't remember it being very rainy last winter.