Lagurus ovatus – Hare’s Tail – Hare’s Tail Grass –

Description

Lagurus – Hare’s Tail – Hare’s Tail Grass – There is one species of an annual grass in this genus. It occurs on coastal dunes on the Mediterranean coast of Southern Europe and, more rarely, on dry wasteland inland, but has been naturalized in many parts of the world. Valued for the effect of its ornamental flower heads borne in summers, their shape and texture are reminiscent of a rabbits tail. It is wiry grass with thin leaves up to 10″ long, green for a short time turning pale golden brown. They are attractive in groups in a herbaceous border. The flower heads are also useful in fresh or dried arrangements, pick them before fully mature for drying and last indefinitely. Grow in light, ideally sandy, moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun. L. ovatus – Hare’s Tail – This tufted annual grass forms a clump and is from the Mediterranean and grows 20″ tall and 12″ wide. It produces arching, linear to narrowly lance shaped, flat, pale green leaves, to 8″ long. In mid spring to summer it bears dense, ovoid to oblong-cylindrical, spike like panicles, to 2 ½” long, of softly hairy, often purple-tinged, pale green spikelets, which mature to pale creamy buff. Zones 9-10