Lagurus ovatus 'Bunny Tails' Seeds

Lagurus ovatus 'Bunny Tails' is a Hardy Annual Grass (H4), meaning it tolerates cold and frost well and completes its life cycle in one growing season.

This charming grass is native to the sandy shores, dunes, and coastal areas of the Mediterranean region, where it's perfectly adapted to survive in poor, sandy, free-draining soil with minimal water. This Mediterranean heritage makes it remarkably tough, drought-tolerant, and easy to please once established—it actually thrives on a bit of neglect!

The "Tactile" Texture: The extraordinary softness of the flower heads comes from thousands upon thousands of tiny silky hairs that cover the entire oval flower spike. These fine hairs catch morning dew beautifully, creating a magical frosted appearance that makes the heads glisten and shimmer in early light. The texture is genuinely velvety—like stroking rabbit fur or the softest velvet fabric.

Fast-Growing Gratification: Unlike perennial ornamental grasses which take years to bulk up into impressive clumps, Lagurus grows from seed to full glory in just a few months (typically 12-14 weeks from sowing to flowering). This makes it perfect for impatient gardeners and for quickly filling gaps in borders or containers!

The Common Names: Also known as "Hare's Tail Grass" or "Bunny's Tail," though "Bunny Tails" is the most endearing and widely used name. The botanical name Lagurus comes from the Greek lagos (hare) and oura (tail), whilst ovatus refers to the oval shape of the seed heads.

Bunny Tails is genuinely one of the easiest ornamental grasses to grow from seed—perfect for absolute beginners!

How to Sow:
You have two excellent options:

Option 1 - Spring Sowing (March-May): Sow indoors in modules from February-April for earliest results, or directly outdoors from April-May once soil has warmed up. For indoor sowing, sow seeds onto the surface of compost and cover very lightly with vermiculite or fine compost (2-3mm). Keep at 15-18°C (cool room temperature is fine—no heat needed). Germination takes 14-21 days.

Option 2 - Autumn Sowing (September-October): For bigger, earlier-flowering plants the following year, you can also sow directly outdoors in September-October. Autumn-sown plants develop stronger root systems over winter and often produce more prolific flowering the following spring/summer.

Where to Plant:
Bunny Tails needs full sun and light, well-drained soil. It absolutely thrives in sandy or gravelly gardens and is perfect for poor, lean soils where other plants struggle. It's also brilliant for terracotta pots and container displays—the compact size and airy texture work beautifully in pots. Avoid heavy clay or waterlogged sites.

Spacing:
Plant 20cm apart. In borders, plant in generous drifts or groups rather than single specimens for maximum impact—a cluster of 5-7 plants creates lovely movement and texture.

Ongoing Care:
Watering: Keep soil moist whilst seedlings are establishing, but once the characteristic fluffy "tails" appear, plants are very drought-tolerant. Water sparingly—overwatering promotes leafy growth at the expense of seed heads.

Feeding: Don't overfeed! Rich soil or fertiliser produces lots of green foliage but fewer, smaller flower heads. Lean, poor soil produces the best, fluffiest tails. This is one plant that genuinely benefits from being slightly starved!

Harvesting Fresh for Arrangements:
Cut stems when flower heads are fully formed and fluffy. Fresh stems last 5-7 days in water and add lovely textural interest to bouquets.

Harvesting for Drying:
This is where Bunny Tails truly excels! For dried arrangements:
• Cut stems when heads are fully formed and soft but before they start to turn brown or shatter (usually mid-summer)
• Choose a dry day and cut in mid-morning after dew has evaporated
• Strip off most foliage
• Hang stems upside down in small bunches (5-8 stems) in a dry, dark, well-ventilated place
• They'll dry within 2-3 weeks, turning a beautiful creamy-beige colour
• Dried heads last for years without shedding!
• For coloured displays, some crafters dye the dried heads with fabric dye—the results are spectacular!

The soft, neutral texture of Bunny Tails creates beautiful contrast with "papery" everlasting flowers and bold, structural blooms:

• 🌸 Strawflower 'Swiss Giant Mix' (Helichrysum): The Texture Mix for Dedicated Dried Flower Gardens. This is an absolutely brilliant pairing if you're creating a dedicated "everlasting garden" or dried flower patch! The crisp, hard, papery petals of Strawflowers in their vivid sunset colours (scarlet, orange, yellow, hot pink, white) contrast perfectly with the soft, velvety, fuzzy texture of Bunny Tails. One is sharp and vibrant, the other soft and neutral—together they create the perfect textural and visual balance. Both are Mediterranean sun-lovers that thrive in the same lean, well-drained soil conditions. Both flower throughout summer. Most importantly, both dry beautifully and are florist's essentials for everlasting arrangements. Grow them side-by-side in your cutting garden and you'll have ready-made dried bouquet ingredients that work perfectly together! The combination creates professional-quality dried arrangements with the Strawflowers providing bold colour focal points whilst the Bunny Tails add soft, textural interest and movement.
• 🌌 Scabious 'Black Knight': The Moody Meadow Effect. For a completely different aesthetic—romantic, naturalistic, and moody—plant Bunny Tails alongside Scabious 'Black Knight'. The deep, velvet maroon-purple pincushion flowers (so dark they appear almost black) poking up through drifts of pale, fluffy grass creates a stunning, sophisticated, meadow-inspired effect in borders. The colour contrast is dramatic: dark jewel tones against pale neutral fluff. The structural contrast is equally effective: rounded, geometric Scabious buttons versus soft, oval grass heads. The height works perfectly too—both reach similar heights (40-50cm) so they intermingle naturally. This combination feels wild, romantic, and slightly mysterious—perfect for cottage gardens or naturalistic prairie-style plantings. Both flower throughout summer, both are cut flowers, and both work beautifully together in fresh or dried arrangements. The pairing creates sophisticated, moody displays that feel both contemporary and timeless!

Sow outdoors spring or autumn. Sow indoors spring. Flowers June-September.