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Chinese fountain grass
The charming Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is a delightful ornamental grass known for its petite stature and graceful, fountain-like foliage. Often referred to as Chinese fountain grass, this compact variety is perfect for adding texture and movement to garden borders and pot arrangements.
With an upright to bushy growth habit, 'Little Bunny' produces fine, green blades that form a dense clump, creating an attractive visual interest throughout the growing season.
We would like to provide some tips on how to plant and care for a Ornamental grasses. By following these tips, you can be sure to enjoy your Ornamental grasses for a long time.
To ensure optimal growth, Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' should be situated in a location that receives full sun to partial shade. This versatile grass is not particularly choosy about soil types but thrives best in well-drained soil. Its modest water requirements mean regular watering should suffice, though it does exhibit drought resistance once established. The plant's compact size and bushy growth habit make it an excellent choice for borders and group plantings, and it can also adapt to container living, adding texture and movement to garden displays with its delicate, cream to brown-hued plumes in the warmer months.
To ensure successful establishment of Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny', choose a location with full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Planting can occur any time during the growing season, avoiding extreme weather conditions such as frost or intense heat. When planting, space the specimens adequately to accommodate their upright to bushy growth habit, which reaches up to 40 cm in height. Water the plants regularly to maintain an average moisture level in the soil, particularly during dry spells, as consistent moisture is crucial for optimal growth and the development of the plant's characteristic cream and brown inflorescences in late summer and autumn.
To maintain the compact and tidy habit of Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny', annual pruning is recommended. Late winter or early spring is the ideal time for this task, just before new growth begins. Cut back the foliage to approximately 10 cm above the ground to encourage fresh, vigorous growth. This timing allows gardeners to enjoy the plant's winter interest before the next growing season. Pruning not only stimulates the growth of new foliage but also helps to preserve the desired shape and vigor of the grass.
While Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is drought-resistant, it thrives best with consistent moisture, particularly during the active growing season. Ensure the soil remains well-drained to avoid waterlogging, which can be detrimental to the plant's health. During prolonged dry spells, water the grass to maintain its lush, green foliage and support the development of its characteristic cream and brown flowers. It is important to balance watering, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between applications, to encourage a strong, deep root system that supports the plant's upright to bushy growth habit.
To optimize the health and vitality of Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny', a balanced approach to nutrition is crucial. This ornamental grass benefits from an annual application of a slow-release, balanced fertilizer early in the growing season, typically in the spring. This ensures a steady supply of essential nutrients as the plant enters its active growth phase.
The well-timed provision of nutrients supports the development of the lush, green foliage and the characteristic cream and brown inflorescences that emerge in late summer. Since this cultivar is relatively low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, over-fertilization should be avoided to prevent excessive growth and potential compromise of its compact, bushy form. An annual feeding, coupled with its preferred well-drained soil conditions, will maintain the plant's health and ornamental appeal throughout the growing season.
The charming Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is renowned for its compact form, making it a perfect choice for those with limited space. Its fluffy, cream-colored plumes dance gracefully in the breeze from late summer to fall, providing a delightful visual display. Moreover, this cultivar is well-suited for container gardening due to its modest root system, allowing for easy incorporation into patio and balcony settings for an added touch of elegance.
To propagate and revitalize Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny', division is a beneficial practice. This process, best carried out in the cooler temperatures of spring or autumn, involves lifting the plant from its location and carefully separating it into smaller sections. Each section should have a robust root system and several shoots to ensure successful re-establishment. The divisions should then be replanted in well-drained soil and adequately watered to support the establishment of new growth. Regular division not only stimulates robust health and vitality but also helps control the size and spread of this ornamental grass.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' typically reaches a height ranging from 10 to 50 centimeters at maturity.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' achieves a maximum spread ranging from 10 centimeters to 50 centimeters.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is adaptable to various soil types, but it thrives best in well-drained soil. This type of soil ensures that the plant's roots are not waterlogged, promoting healthy growth and development.
The optimal location for Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is an area that receives a combination of direct sunlight and partial shade. This plant flourishes when situated in an environment where it can experience both sun and partial shade throughout the day.
The flowers of Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' showcase a delightful combination of brown and white hues, adding a unique and charming touch to the plant's appearance.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is indeed winter hardy. It can endure temperatures ranging from -15.0°C to -9.4°C, placing it within the USDA hardiness zones 7b/8a. Therefore, this plant is well-suited to withstand the winter conditions within these specified temperature ranges.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is not an evergreen plant. It goes through the typical deciduous cycle of shedding its foliage in the autumn and growing new leaves in the spring.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' typically reaches its full height within a span of two to five years, signifying a moderate yet steady growth rate.
If we are proud of anything at Heijnen Plants, it is our plant packaging. We have developed our own unique way of packaging our 9x9 cm potted plants. After years of continued development and research, we managed to create packaging that allows plants to be delivered to your home undamaged and quickly through a parcel service. This makes us unique!
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If you have ordered large-sized plants or trees, we deliver them on sealed pallets and place them around your house or driveway. The pallets are sturdy and provide optimal protection for large-sized plants.
We deliver small or medium-sized plants in boxes. The size of the box depends on the size of the plant. We always make sure that the plant has enough space but still stands firmly in the box, so it cannot be damaged during transport.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny' is an enchanting ornamental grass that brings a touch of whimsy to any landscape. With its compact size and playful, fluffy seed heads that resemble bunny tails, this plant adds texture and movement, making it a delightful choice for both containers and borders.
