Bunny Tails Grass is a Mediterranean native ornamental that lives up to its whimsical name: each delicate seed head resembles a soft, velvety bunny tail, creating an irresistible textural focal point in gardens and arrangements. This compact annual thrives in warm climates (zones 9-11) and reaches just 12-20 inches tall, making it one of the tidiest ornamental grasses available. It blooms from summer through fall, requires minimal water once established, and moves from seed to flowering display in about 45 days, depending on growing conditions. Whether tucked into containers or massed for landscape drama, it brings playful charm and tactile appeal that few plants can match.
Full Sun
Low
9-11
20in H x 12in W
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Moderate
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The seed heads are genuinely magical: soft, pale, and perfectly bunny-like, they appear just 45 days after sowing and persist through a long season from June into November. The plant stays compact and well-behaved, making it one of the easiest ornamental grasses to integrate into mixed plantings or small spaces. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and needs almost no fertilizer or fussy attention, yet delivers outsized visual impact with minimal effort.
Bunny Tails Grass is primarily grown as an ornamental for its extraordinary seed heads, which work beautifully in fresh and dried cut flower arrangements. Gardeners plant it in containers, borders, and mixed beds where its fine texture and upright habit create visual interest without overwhelming neighboring plants. When seed heads are harvested at the light green stage before pollen sheds, they retain their soft, velvety appearance and can be dried for long-lasting floral compositions.
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Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch in seed-starting mix and maintain temperatures around 60-65°F until germination, which typically occurs within 5-10 days. Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off once soil has warmed to appropriate spring temperatures.
Harden off indoor-started seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting. Transplant outdoors 6-8 weeks after the initial indoor sowing, or roughly 1-2 weeks after your last frost date. Space plants 9 inches apart to allow mature growth.
Direct sow seeds outdoors 1-2 weeks after your last frost date, or sow 2-4 weeks before your average last frost date if you prefer to direct seed earlier. Sow seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch directly into prepared garden soil or containers.
Harvest seed heads when they have turned a light green color and before pollen begins to shed; this timing preserves the soft, velvety texture that makes them so appealing in arrangements. Pinch or cut individual heads at their base using clean scissors or pruners. Early harvesting prevents self-sowing and extends the ornamental appeal of the remaining plant.
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“Lagurus ovatus originates from the Mediterranean coastline, where it evolved in the sun-baked, low-water environments typical of that region. This heirloom variety has been preserved and passed through seed catalogs for generations, valued specifically for the extraordinary texture and form of its seed heads. Mediterranean plants like this one were traditionally introduced to Northern gardeners through seed catalogs during the Victorian era's passion for ornamental grasses and exotic botanicals, and this variety remains a favorite among those seeking authentic, low-maintenance plants with genuine charm rather than engineered novelty.”