The common name pampas grass, though strictly referring to C. selloana, is frequently applied to all species in the genus (and sometimes also to species of Erianthus and Saccharum ravennae).
O nome común cortadeira, estritamente referido a C. selloana, é xeralmente aplicado a todas as especies do xénero (e ás veces, incorrectamente, para Erianthus e Saccharum ravennae).