Mature size & growth rate

How big does Hare's Tail Grass (Lagurus ovatus) get?

Also called Bunny Tail Grass, Hare's Tail, Rabbit Tail Grass.

More about hare's tail grass

About Hare's Tail Grass

Lagurus ovatus · also called Bunny Tail Grass, Hare's Tail · flowering

Hare's Tail Grass is a charming annual ornamental grass with soft, bristly, oval seed heads that resemble fluffy rabbit tails, turning from pale green to creamy white as they mature. It is a popular choice for dried flower arrangements. The genus Lagurus is not listed by the ASPCA as toxic and is considered pet-safe.

Mature size: 30-50 cm tall including seed heads

Watch for — Lax, floppy growth: Rich soil or low light produces tall, weak stems. Grow in lean, well-drained soil in full sun.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Hare's Tail Grass reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back. Indoors and in a pot, expect 30-50 cm tall including seed heads. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Growth rate and years to mature

Hare's Tail Grass is a moderate grower. Realistically, expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Its feeding profile backs this up: avoid rich fertiliser — on fertile soil the grass produces excessive leafy growth at the expense of the decorative seed heads. a single light application of slow-release granular fertiliser in spring is sufficient if soil is very poor.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the hare's tail grass repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast hare's tail grass grows.

How to keep hare's tail grass smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For hare's tail grass specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of hare's tail grass from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual.
Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets.
For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier.
Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How to grow hare's tail grass bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for hare's tail grass the accelerators are:

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest.
Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up.
Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The hare's tail grass light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When hare's tail grass outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for hare's tail grass:

It sprawls beyond its bed or container before harvest — usually a spacing or support issue.
It flops or needs staking once it hits full height.
Once it has fruited or bolted, it is at its final size for good — the next plant is a new sowing.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the hare's tail grass repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the hare's tail grass propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Hare's Tail Grass size — frequently asked questions

How big does hare's tail grass get?

Hare's Tail Grass reaches 30-50 cm tall including seed heads when grown indoors. It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Is hare's tail grass slow or fast growing?

Hare's Tail Grass is a moderate grower. Expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Hare's Tail Grass reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back.

How long does hare's tail grass take to reach full size?

Roughly a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep hare's tail grass smaller?

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of hare's tail grass from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual. Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets. For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier. Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How can I make hare's tail grass grow bigger or faster?

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest. Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up. Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.