Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Move the plant to a brighter spot.
- Check if other plants are shading it.
- Prune back the longest stems to encourage bushier growth.
Likely causes
Insufficient light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems grow long, thin, and reach toward the nearest light source. The plant loses its dense, compact appearance.
What to do: Move the plant to a location that receives full, direct sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. If indoors, use a high output grow light positioned close to the foliage.
Overcrowding
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is competing for light and space with other plants in the same container. The stems become stretched as they try to find room.
What to do: Divide the plant into smaller clumps and repot them into separate containers. This gives each section enough room to grow properly.
Find out what's wrong with your hare's tail cottongrass
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Legginess is rarely fatal but indicates the plant is not thriving. It is normal for the plant to look a bit sparse after a long winter indoors.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant in full sun throughout the growing season to maintain a compact shape.
Hare's tail cottongrass: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your hare's tail cottongrass and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Does this plant flower?
- Yes, it produces white, cotton like heads in the spring and summer. It needs full sun to bloom successfully.
- Can I prune it to make it shorter?
- Yes, you can trim back overgrown stems to encourage the plant to fill out again.
More problems with Hare's tail cottongrass
Back to the Hare's tail cottongrass guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.