How to Grow Bunny Tail Grass From Seed Step by Step

Bunny tail grass (Lagurus ovatus) is a charming annual ornamental grass that grows best in a warm, sunny spot with light, well-drained soil. To grow it from seed, press the seeds onto the soil surface with just a very light dusting of cover (no more than 1/8 inch deep), keep the soil moist but never soggy, and expect sprouts in 5 to 12 days under good conditions. It thrives in Mediterranean-style climates but grows reliably as a summer annual across most of the US and UK if you give it full sun and sharp drainage.

What bunny tail grass actually is and where it grows best

Lagurus ovatus is the only species in its genus, and it goes by a handful of names: bunny tail grass, hare's-tail grass, rabbit's-tail grass, and bunnytail. Those fluffy, oval seedheads are the reason for all those names, and they're genuinely one of the most appealing textures you can add to a border or cutting garden. It's native to the shores of the Mediterranean, which tells you a lot about what it likes: warm sun, lean soil, and excellent drainage.

Because it's a true annual, Lagurus ovatus lives its whole life in one season: germinate, grow, flower, set seed, and done. In mild climates it can naturalize and reseed itself, so you may get repeat plants year after year without replanting. In cooler or wetter regions you'll likely need to resow each spring. It's not a lawn grass in the way that bermuda, fescue, or ryegrass are, so it won't replace a turf stand, but it makes a beautiful low-maintenance addition to borders, dry gardens, containers, and even informal cottage-style plantings.

A quick note if you're searching for 'grass for rabbits': Lagurus ovatus is an ornamental plant, not a verified rabbit food. Don't assume that something called 'bunny tail' is safe for pet rabbits to eat. More on that at the end of this guide.

Picking the right seed and variety for your climate

There's really only one species to buy: Lagurus ovatus. You'll see it sold under 'Bunny Tails Grass Seeds,' 'Hare's Tail Grass,' and 'Rabbit Tail Grass' at retailers like Botanical Interests, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Siskiyou Seeds, and Heritage Harvest Seed. Some suppliers offer a dwarf form ('Nanus'), which grows to about 12 inches rather than the standard 18 to 24 inches. The dwarf is great for containers or tight borders; the standard form gives you bigger, showier plumes and works better in mass plantings or as a cut-grass display.

Climate-wise, Lagurus ovatus is flexible. It performs best where summers are warm and dry, making it an easy choice in California, the Southwest, the Mediterranean-climate Pacific Northwest valleys, and similar zones. In the humid Southeast or Midwest, it still grows well, but you'll need to be extra careful about drainage since wet conditions are its main enemy. In cooler northern climates (USDA zones 4 to 5), treat it as a direct-sow spring annual and expect the full 80 to 110 days to maturity to eat into your season. It's not the right plant for deep shade or boggy spots regardless of your region, unlike some of the cool-season lawn grasses like fescue that can tolerate shadier conditions.

Getting your soil right before you plant

Soil preparation is where most failures start with this grass, so don't skip it. Lagurus ovatus needs very well-drained, light to medium soil with moderate fertility. It does not want rich, heavily amended soil the way a vegetable garden would, and it absolutely does not want compacted clay that holds water.

If your soil is clay or compacted

Work in coarse sand or fine grit (not beach sand, which can make concrete-like mixes) to open up the structure. A 2 to 3 inch layer tilled in 6 to 8 inches deep makes a real difference. You can also raise the bed by a few inches using a mixture of native soil and grit, which improves drainage immediately without major digging. Avoid over-amending with compost because high organic matter holds moisture, which is the opposite of what this plant wants.

If your soil is sandy

Sandy soil is almost ideal for Lagurus ovatus. A light application of balanced granular fertilizer (something like a 10-10-10 at the label rate) before sowing is enough to provide moderate fertility. You don't need to heavily amend sandy soil for this grass.

pH and basic soil prep

Lagurus ovatus isn't fussy about pH the way some lawn grasses are. A neutral to slightly alkaline range (around 6.5 to 7.5) works well. If you've already tested your soil for other lawn projects and it's within that range, you're fine. Rake the surface smooth, break up any clumps larger than a marble, and firm the bed lightly before seeding. Good seed-to-soil contact matters because these seeds germinate better on or very near the surface.

How to grow bunny tail grass from seed, step by step

1. Choose a location with full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun daily). This is non-negotiable for good germination and strong plume production.
2. Prepare the soil as described above: light texture, good drainage, no thick mulch layers or waterlogged areas.
3. Scatter seeds evenly over the prepared surface. For a loose, natural look, broadcast by hand. For a more structured planting, sow in shallow rows spaced 6 to 9 inches apart.
4. Cover very lightly with a thin layer of fine soil or vermiculite, no more than 1/8 inch. Light is required for germination, so burying seeds deeply is one of the fastest ways to get zero results.
5. Firm the surface gently with your hand or the back of a rake to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
6. Water in with a gentle spray. You want the surface moist, not flooded. A misting nozzle or watering can with a rose head works well here.
7. Keep the surface consistently moist (not wet) until germination, which typically takes 5 to 12 days under warm, well-lit conditions.
8. Once seedlings are up and showing their first true leaves, thin to about 6 inches apart if you broadcast-sowed, or thin rows to the same spacing.

If you're starting indoors (useful in shorter-season climates), sow in small pots or cell trays 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost. Place on a sunny windowsill or under fluorescent grow lights on a 16-hour-on, 8-hour-off cycle. Lagurus ovatus seedlings need strong light from the moment they emerge or they get leggy fast. Transplant outdoors after your last frost date when seedlings have 3 to 4 leaves.

Timing, watering, and what to expect during germination

The best time to direct-sow outdoors is spring, once soil temperatures have warmed and frost risk has passed. In mild climates (zones 8 and above), you can also sow in fall for a cool-season run before summer heat arrives. For most of the continental US, a spring sow between late March and mid-May is the sweet spot.

Germination runs 5 to 12 days under good conditions, with some sources noting up to 10 to 12 days as more typical at cooler spring temperatures. From germination to flowering and plume production is roughly 80 to 95 days under average conditions, with full maturity potentially taking up to 110 days. That means if you sow in early May, you can expect those fluffy plumes by mid to late summer.

Watering strategy changes at each stage. Before germination, keep the soil surface consistently moist with light, frequent watering (sometimes twice daily in warm, windy weather). Once seedlings are established with a few sets of leaves, back off to deep but less frequent watering. Once fully established, Lagurus ovatus is low water use and handles dry spells well. Overwatering after establishment actually hurts it, especially in clay-heavy soils.

Why your seeds aren't germinating (and how to fix it)

Three problems account for most bunny tail grass germination failures, and they're all fixable once you know what's happening.

Thin stands are often the result of sowing too late in the season (not enough warm days left to reach maturity) or sowing into shady spots. If you get thin coverage, oversow the gaps immediately rather than waiting. Because Lagurus germinates quickly under good conditions, a second sowing a few weeks later can still catch up reasonably well.

Ongoing care after establishment

Once bunny tail grass is up and growing, it's genuinely low maintenance. If you are specifically looking for how to grow brachiaria grass, you can apply the same overall approach to sunlight, soil, and watering planning Once bunny tail grass is up and growing, it's genuinely low maintenance.. Water during extended dry spells (a good soak every 10 to 14 days in dry summers is usually enough), and don't fertilize heavily. Rich, high-nitrogen soil pushes leafy growth at the expense of the fluffy plumes, which are the whole point of growing it.

Deadheading isn't necessary, but cutting the stems at the base after the plumes fade keeps the planting looking tidy and prevents unwanted self-seeding. If you want it to naturalize and return on its own next year, leave some plumes to drop seed. This works best in warm, dry climates with loose, sandy soil. In wetter regions, self-seeding is less reliable.

There's no significant pest pressure to worry about under normal conditions. The main ongoing threats are overwatering, poor drainage, and shade creeping in from neighboring plants as the season progresses. Keep the area around it reasonably open and don't crowd it with large leafy plants that will block light.

Using it as a cut grass or in arrangements

Bunny tail grass is excellent as a cut or dried grass. Cut stems when the plumes are fully formed but still soft and green-tinged for the best dried results. Hang bunches upside down in a warm, airy space for one to two weeks. They dry beautifully and hold their shape for months in arrangements.

A note on 'grass for rabbits' and pet safety

If you searched for bunny tail grass because you want to grow something for your pet rabbits to eat, stop before you plant and verify safety first. Lagurus ovatus is not a documented rabbit food plant, and its common name refers purely to the appearance of its plumes, not any connection to rabbit nutrition or safety. Rabbit welfare organizations and veterinary sources are clear that many plants can be toxic to rabbits even when they look harmless, and you should never feed a rabbit any plant unless you have confirmed it's safe from a reliable source. For actual rabbit-safe grazing, plain timothy hay, meadow grass, and certain herbs have documented safety records. Don't rely on a plant's name as a guide to whether it's safe for your animals.

How bunny tail grass compares to other ornamental and specialty grasses

If you're exploring ornamental and specialty grasses more broadly, it's worth knowing where Lagurus ovatus sits relative to similar options. Mexican feather grass offers a similar wispy, movement-in-the-wind quality but is a perennial with a finer leaf texture and a more invasive reputation in some states. Broom grass is a coarser, more utilitarian plant used for different purposes entirely. Citronella grass is grown primarily for its scent rather than its ornamental appeal. Lagurus ovatus is the best choice specifically when you want soft, tactile plumes for borders, dried arrangements, or containers, and you're happy replanting annually or allowing it to self-seed.