Hare's tail grass
Lagurus ovatus · Poaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant hare's tail grass: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, fine and linear
- Flowering
- July to September
- Adult size
- 16 to 24 inches tall
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Low frost-hardy (frost-sensitive in cold climates)
- Origin
- Mediterranean Basin and North Africa
- Soil type
- Well-drained, light, drought-tolerant
Care
Sunlight
Hare's tail demands a very sunny location to develop its compact form and dense flower spikes. It struggles in prolonged partial shade, which weakens its structure. Plant it in full south or west-facing sun depending on your climate.
Watering
This ornamental grass is very drought-tolerant once established. Water regularly during the first months after planting to promote root development, then space out watering progressively. In dry climates, occasional summer watering is more than enough.
Soil
Lagurus ovatus prefers light, sandy or gravelly, well-drained soils. It dreads waterlogged soil and heavy clay. Improve compacted soil by adding sand or gravel to ensure good permeability.
Pruning and cleanup
Prune this annual or biennial grass at the end of winter, close to the ground, before spring growth resumes. You can also leave it to dry on the plant in autumn to enjoy its ornamental spikes for a long time before final cleanup.
Fertilizing
An undemanding grass that needs little nutrition. A balanced fertilizer application in spring is plenty. Too much nitrogen promotes excessive foliage at the expense of flower spikes.
Diseases and pests
Highly robust, it's rarely affected by common diseases or pests. Excess moisture can however encourage root rot. Keep the soil well-drained and air out the clump regularly to prevent any problems.
Did you know?
Hare's tail owes its poetic name to its fuzzy spikes that truly resemble a hare's tail at rest. In the Mediterranean, where it grows wild, it's often used in dried flower arrangements: its spikes retain their pearly beige color for a long time after drying, with no need for chemical treatment.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Tufted hair grassDeschampsia cespitosa
- Wavy hair-grassAvenella flexuosa
- Purple moor-grassMolinia caerulea
- Reed canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea
- Common quaking grassBriza media
- Creeping soft-grassHolcus mollis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.