Bountiful Gardens

The Fluffy Favorite: Bunny Tail Grass

Bunny Tail Grass is a compact, ornamental annual grass. It grows in a tidy, tufted clump of soft, hairy green blades. In early summer, it sends out thin stems topped with those iconic creamy-white "tails." As the season progresses, the tails turn from a soft chartreuse-white to a toasted tan, remaining attractive well into the winter.

Role in the Garden

• Design Category: Filler. It grows in a compact clump (about 12–18 inches tall), making it a perfect mid-layer plant that adds movement and softness to a design.

• Best Placement: It is a "must-have" for sensory gardens, rock gardens, and sunny containers. Because of its size, it works beautifully in the front or middle of a flower bed.

• Bloom Season: Early Summer through Fall. The "tails" appear in June and stay on the plant for months. They are "everlasting" and won't drop their seeds or fall apart easily.

Care & Maintenance

• The "Petting" Factor: Place this plant where people (especially kids!) can reach it. It is one of the few plants where "please touch" is the main rule.

• Excellent Dried Flower: These are a staple for dried bouquets. Simply snip the stems when the tails are at their fluffiest and put them in a dry vase—no water needed! They will stay perfect for years.

• Self-Sowing: While it is an annual, it is a "polite" self-sower. If you leave the tails on the plant over winter, you’ll likely find tiny new "bunny ears" popping up in the soil next spring.

• Minimal Pests: Most garden pests, including deer and rabbits (ironically!), tend to leave this grass alone because of its fuzzy texture.

The Essential Tip for Beginners

The "Haircut" Warning: Unlike some other ornamental grasses, you don't really want to prune Bunny Tail Grass mid-season. If you snip off the tails, the plant may not have enough time to produce a second round. If the foliage starts to look a bit "tired" in the heat of August, just give it a deep watering and a little bit of shade; it will usually perk back up for the fall.