Pennisetum 'Little Bunny' - Dwarf Fountain Grass
Overview
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is a charming miniature ornamental grass that brings texture, movement, and year-round interest to gardens of all sizes. This compact cultivar of fountain grass is perfect for gardeners seeking the elegant appeal of ornamental grasses without the space requirements of larger varieties.
Key Features
This delightful dwarf grass forms neat, rounded clumps of fine, arching foliage that rarely exceeds 30cm in height and spread. The narrow, green leaves create a fountain-like appearance that gracefully sways in the slightest breeze, adding natural movement to borders and containers.
Seasonal Interest
Spring and Summer: Fresh green foliage emerges early in the season, creating compact mounds of fine-textured leaves that provide excellent contrast to broader-leaved plants.
Autumn: The real magic happens as 'Little Bunny' produces its signature bottlebrush-like flower heads. These creamy-white to pale pink plumes appear from late summer through autumn, standing just above the foliage on delicate stems.
Winter: The dried seed heads and foliage persist through winter, providing valuable structure and interest when many other plants have died back. The buff-coloured winter appearance offers a subtle, architectural element to the winter garden.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Thrives in well-drained soil but is remarkably adaptable to various soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils. Tolerates both slightly acidic and alkaline conditions.
Sun Requirements: Performs best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade, though flowering may be reduced in shadier locations.
Water Needs: Once established, 'Little Bunny' is exceptionally drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens and water-wise landscaping.
Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK (RHS hardiness rating H5), withstanding temperatures down to -15°C.
Care and Maintenance
This is truly a low-maintenance plant that rewards minimal effort with maximum impact. Simply cut back the entire clump to within 5-10cm of ground level in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This annual trim keeps the plant tidy and encourages fresh, vigorous growth.
No regular feeding is necessary, though a light application of general-purpose fertiliser in spring can enhance growth in poor soils. The plant is generally pest and disease-free, making it ideal for organic gardens.
Garden Uses
Borders and Beds: Creates excellent edging for perennial borders or can be planted in drifts for ground cover effect. Its compact size makes it perfect for the front of mixed borders.
Containers: Exceptional in pots, window boxes, and planters where its fountaining habit can be fully appreciated. Combines beautifully with autumn-flowering perennials and evergreen shrubs.
Rock Gardens: The small stature and drought tolerance make it ideal for rock gardens and gravel gardens.
Wildlife Gardens: The seed heads provide valuable food for birds, particularly goldfinches, whilst the dense foliage offers shelter for beneficial insects.
Companion Planting
'Little Bunny' pairs wonderfully with late-season perennials such as Sedum, Asters, and Rudbeckia. Its fine texture contrasts beautifully with bold-leaved plants like Bergenia or Hosta. For a contemporary look, combine with other ornamental grasses of varying heights and textures.
Size and Spacing
Mature Size: 25-30cm height and spread Planting Distance: Space plants 30-40cm apart for individual specimens, or closer for a ground cover effect Growth Rate: Moderate, reaching full size within 2-3 years
Why Choose 'Little Bunny'?
This miniature fountain grass offers all the elegance and movement of larger ornamental grasses in a perfectly proportioned package. Its exceptional drought tolerance, minimal maintenance requirements, and year-round interest make it an outstanding choice for modern gardeners seeking maximum impact with minimal effort. Whether you're creating a contemporary gravel garden or adding texture to a traditional border, 'Little Bunny' delivers consistent performance and enduring appeal.
Buying Bamboo & Grasses from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell the majority of our stock all year round. Our stock is for the most part grown outdoors making it far hardier than those grown under glass and/or only sold ‘In Season’. With Bamboo and Grasses the leaves can differ in quality dependent on the time of the year and whether they are in their growth phase. We protect less hardy species during the winter but other plants grown out doors may have some wind damage. This is in no way detrimental to the plant and will grow out naturally in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Ornamental grasses can provide calming, delicate accompaniments to colourful flowering plants, or they can be the focus of design instead. There are types available for every garden setup, soil type and position, and will provide colour, coverage, contrast and structure wherever they are planted.
Planting and Conditions
Grasses from colder climates such as Deschampsia, Festuca, Helctotrichon and Stipa grow in late winter and flower before mid-summer. To get the best establishment, they should be planted in the autumn.
Grasses from warmer climates such as Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum and Spartina grow in late spring, flower after mid-summer and are best cut back in late winter. Plan them in late spring, and they will be best established.
Grasses also make good container specimens, and will prosper in loamy soil.
Ideally, the planting areas for grasses should be prepared in the autumn months. Till the soil deeply, and work in ample organic matter. Ornamental grasses do not require large amounts of fertiliser.
Aftercare and Pruning
The foliage on deciduous grasses can be left until February. They turn brown rather than lose their leaves, and so should be pruned to ground level later in the season. The severity of pruning required can vary from variety to variety, so care should be taken so that you don’t harm the plant.
Evergreen grasses can be trimmed in autumn / spring. Remove brown tips and cut back dead leaves that usually collect around the base of the plant.
Care for your grasses by using mulch and watering them regularly. Otherwise, they are a fairy low maintenance addition to the garden.
Potential Issues
Nothing really bothers most ornamental grasses. Rabbits and voles may occasionally be an issue, but they can easily be controlled using fencing and, if needs must, animal repellents.
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