Little Bunny Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’) is a popular ornamental grass known for its compact form. Companion planting involves strategically placing different plant species together to create a harmonious and visually appealing landscape, enhancing garden aesthetics and health.
Characteristics of Little Bunny Grass
Little Bunny Grass is a dwarf fountain grass cultivar, typically reaching 10-18 inches in height and spread. It forms a neat, mounding habit with fine-textured, bright green foliage. This grass thrives in full sun to partial shade, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth. Its water needs are moderate, establishing well in various well-draining soil types. Once established, it exhibits good drought tolerance, making it a resilient choice. The plant offers multi-seasonal appeal, with green foliage transitioning to soft, buff-colored seed heads in late summer and fall, often holding golden winter color.
Why Companion Plant with Little Bunny Grass
Pairing other plants with Little Bunny Grass offers numerous advantages for garden design and plant health. It creates visual interest by introducing varied textures, forms, and colors, preventing a monotonous landscape. This thoughtful placement can extend the garden’s seasonal appeal, ensuring continuous beauty. Beyond aesthetics, companion planting can soften hardscape elements like pathways or patio edges, integrating them naturally. Certain plant combinations also contribute to better soil health and suppress weed growth, reducing maintenance.
Top Companion Plant Choices
Flowering Perennials
Flowering perennials offer vibrant color and contrasting forms that complement the fine texture of Little Bunny Grass. Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) provides sturdy, daisy-like blooms in purple, pink, or white, creating a bold, upright contrast. Their late summer bloom time extends garden interest. Salvia (Salvia nemorosa) produces spires of blue or purple flowers that stand out against the grass’s green foliage, blooming earlier. Sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile), like ‘Autumn Joy’, offers succulent foliage and late-season pink to reddish flower clusters, echoing the grass’s mounding form with a different texture.
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Other ornamental grasses and sedges enhance the naturalistic feel, introducing subtle variations in texture and height. Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca) forms a compact, silvery-blue mound, providing striking color contrast to Little Bunny Grass. Its fine texture harmonizes well, creating a cohesive ground layer. Various Carex species, such as ‘Evergold’, add different mounding forms and colors with a softer, arching texture. Taller ornamental grasses like Miscanthus sinensis cultivars can be positioned behind Little Bunny Grass, providing a dramatic backdrop and vertical element.
Low-Growing Shrubs and Groundcovers
Low-growing shrubs and groundcovers provide structural elements and year-round interest, serving as a foil for Little Bunny Grass. Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) offers evergreen foliage in green or blue-green, creating a dense, low carpet that contrasts with the grass’s upright plumes. Its prostrate form provides a sturdy, textural base. Dwarf Spiraea cultivars, like ‘Little Princess’ or ‘Magic Carpet’, are deciduous shrubs offering fine-textured foliage and pink summer blooms. Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) forms an aromatic, dense mat of tiny leaves that can spill around the grass, offering contrasting texture and occasional small flowers.
Designing and Planting Considerations
When integrating Little Bunny Grass and its companions, group plants for visual impact. Planting in drifts or masses, rather than single specimens, enhances density and visual weight. Consider the mature sizes of all plants to avoid overcrowding, ensuring adequate spacing.
Creating distinct layers adds depth and interest. Position taller companions in the background, mid-height plants in the middle ground, and Little Bunny Grass with low-growing companions in the foreground. This layering provides natural flow. Ensure all selected plants share similar light and water requirements for healthy growth. Prior to planting, prepare the soil by incorporating organic matter to improve drainage and nutrient availability. After planting, thorough initial watering helps plants establish root systems.