Pennisetum messiacum 'Red Bunny Tails' is a tender perennial fountain grass native to southwestern Asia and Australia, prized for its tidy, upright clumps of narrow green foliage that reach 24 to 36 inches tall and wide. The cultivar gets its whimsical name from showy, feathery flower spikes that emerge in late summer through fall, resembling water spraying from a fountain. Hardy in zones 5 through 9, it thrives in full sun to partial shade with moderate water needs and minimal maintenance, while also tolerating drought, deer pressure, and challenging urban conditions once established. The flowers are excellent for cutting and drying, attracting butterflies and birds throughout the growing season.
Partial Sun
Moderate
5-9
36in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Narrow green grass blades form a tidy upright clump that stays compact compared to other fountain grass species, reaching just 20 inches in the Missouri Botanical Garden's trials. Showy, feathery flower spikes emerge from midsummer through autumn, performing well in both fresh arrangements and dried displays. This cultivar handles heat and humidity with ease, tolerates wet soil and drought with equal aplomb, and never bothers deer; it's equally at home in a rain garden, used as a ground cover, or naturalized into a meadow setting.
Fountain grass 'Red Bunny Tails' serves as an ornamental accent in mixed borders, perennial gardens, and contemporary landscapes where its vertical texture and arching flower spikes provide contrast to broad-leaved plants. It excels in rain gardens and naturalized plantings, where its tolerance for wet soil and drought cycles makes it resilient after establishment. The flowers are valued for cutting and drying, holding their shape and color beautifully in arrangements that can last months. It also functions as an effective ground cover in larger spaces and creates movement and visual interest in annual display gardens where it's grown season to season in colder zones.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Plant after the last spring frost date in your region. Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart to allow room for mature clump spread. Establish in full sun to partial shade with average, medium moisture, well-drained soil.
Cut foliage to the ground in late winter before new shoots appear to remove dead growth and encourage vigorous spring emergence. This annual pruning maintains the plant's tidy appearance and prevents a buildup of dead biomass that can harbor pests or disease.
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“Pennisetum messiacum hails from southwestern Asia and Australia, where it evolved among native grasses in warm, seasonally variable climates. The genus name itself tells the plant's story: penna means 'feather' and seta means 'bristle' in Latin, a direct reference to the long, feathery bristles that characterize the flower spikes. 'Red Bunny Tails' is a cultivar selection bred to emphasize the compact, upright habit and the distinctive fuzzy flower spikes that gardeners find irresistible, offering improved garden performance compared to the species type.”