Little Bunny fountain grass

Sun

Full sun is best; light partial shade is tolerated but usually reduces flowering.

Water

Water regularly during establishment. Once rooted, water during prolonged dry spells; container plants need more frequent watering.

Soil

Well-drained soil of average fertility. Tolerates sandy or loamy soil and clay that does not remain waterlogged, especially in winter.

Height

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m), including flower heads

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late summer into autumn; pale green to creamy-white bottlebrush heads mature to tan. Flowering can be sparse in cool summers.

Foliage

Fine, arching green leaves form a neat mound, turning yellow-gold and then straw-coloured in autumn.

Growth

Moderate; develops slowly in cool spring weather and grows faster in summer warmth.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.36 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.2 ft (0.37 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

Australia

Invasive in

the US

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during the first growing season, allowing the surface soil to dry slightly between waterings.
• Keep the crown out of standing water; use containers with unobstructed drainage holes.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages floppy leaves.
• Keep mulch away from the crown to reduce persistent dampness.
• Divide crowded clumps in spring when new growth appears; staking is not normally needed.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, cut the old leaves and flower stems back to 2-4 in (5-10 cm) above ground before new shoots lengthen. Leave the dry growth standing through winter unless it collapses or unwanted seedlings are a concern.

Late winter

Cut back old growth before fresh shoots emerge.

Spring

Plant once the soil warms, or divide established clumps as new growth begins.

Late spring

Apply a thin compost dressing and check that mulch is clear of the crown.

Summer

Water new plants and containers during dry weather; check established plants during prolonged drought.

Late summer

Remove flower heads before seed ripens where self-seeding is a concern.

Autumn

Leave sound foliage for winter structure and move pots away from places where water collects.

• Repeat small groups along a sunny path to create a soft, low edging.
• Place at the front of perennial borders with stonecrop and coneflowers for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Use in well-drained patio containers where the arching leaves can soften the rim.
• Plant in small drifts in gravel gardens for fine texture and late-season flower heads.

Garden styles it suits: New perennial (prairie), Dry gravel garden, Contemporary minimal, Small-space, Sensory garden and Autumn colour.

Plant it with: Purple coneflower, Stonecrop, Catmint, Perennial salvia, Coreopsis and Dwarf Russian sage.

Wildlife: Dense clumps provide shelter for small invertebrates, and birds may take some ripe seed. The wind-pollinated flowers are not a significant nectar source.

• Crown rot or winter loss in wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised bed; do not bury the crown.
• Sparse flowering: provide more sun and avoid excess nitrogen; cool summers can limit flowering even with good care.
• Brown leaf tips during drought: water deeply and check containers more frequently in hot weather.
• Dead centre in an older clump: lift and divide in spring, replanting healthy outer sections.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as poisonous, but coarse leaves and bristly seed heads can cause mechanical irritation if chewed or caught in the mouth or eyes.

Where it spreads. The species can self-seed and escape cultivation in parts of the eastern United States, particularly the Mid-Atlantic. Do not assume 'Little Bunny' is sterile; remove seed heads before ripening near natural areas and check local invasive-plant guidance.

• Hameln fountain grass (Cenchrus alopecuroides 'Hameln')

  Has similar pale bottlebrush heads but forms a substantially larger, taller mound than 'Little Bunny'.

• Fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceus)

  Usually much taller, with longer, more slender, often pinkish-purple flower heads. It is less cold-hardy and is invasive or regulated in many warm regions.

The species name alopecuroides means resembling a foxtail, referring to the flower heads, while 'Little Bunny' evokes their soft appearance and the plant's small size.

Propagation. Divide in spring once new growth appears, retaining roots and several live shoots on each section. Seedlings may differ from the parent and should not be labelled 'Little Bunny'.

Accepted botanical name

Cenchrus alopecuroides

Native range

Andaman Is., China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Hainan, Japan, Jawa, Korea, Malaya, Manchuria, Myanmar and Nansei-shoto.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.