Restio Selection

Capensis

Elegia Capensis
Elegant Rush

This Restio will develop into a tall elegant plant with dark green foliage and decorative brown papery sheaths along the stem. Forms a dense clump with age.

It is ideally suited to most free draining soils in full sun or very light shade. Avoid heavy clay soils. Responds to additional moisture over Summer or during periods of prolonged dryness. Clumps can be cut back in late Spring.

An excellent feature plant for the garden or beside a pool. The stems are also very useful in floral decorations.

Height 2.5m. Width 1.5m.

Elegia Coleura

An attractive clumping Restio. Decorative seed heads follow flowering in Spring.

Likes free draining soils and will tolerate wetter soils during Winter. Best planted in full sun.

A great plant for coastal environments.

Height 60cm. Width 60cm.

Equisetacea

Elegia Equisetacea

This is an attractive reed-like plant with large, golden seed heads forming a bright patch in a garden where it will dance and whisper in the wind.

'Elegia equisetacea' is a medium to tall, tufted, reed-like plant with straight stems. The stems are topped with long inflorescences with large golden bracts in Spring.

'Elegia equisetacea' must be grown in full sun, prefers a well-drained soil and plenty of air movement. The plants adapt to a large variety of soil types. The best time for planting restios is at the beginning of the rainy season, as the plants need regular watering, especially during the first six weeks to two months after planting.

This is a fast-growing species that will be nearly 1 m high one year after sowing and will have formed a handsome plant after three years. The plants produce a new growth flush every year.

This species is best used as part of a mixed border or in a group in a Mediterranean style garden. Because the rhizomes do not spread, the plant can be grown in a large pot. They can be used as small shrubs or to provide a grass-like touch, now so fashionable in landscaping.

Height 1.5m. Width 1m+.

Ischyrolepsis Subverticillata
Broom Restio

A very versatile Restio with elegant foliage that develops a clump with reeds up to 1.5m high. The reeds have whorls of soft green foliage at each node. The attractive arching stems of the female plant are tipped with small capsules.

A low maintenance plant which can grow in partial shade, half shade or full sun in free draining light soils. Is happy in damper soils. Provide moisture during periods of prolonged dryness.

An ideal garden plant and can also do well as a patio container plant.
Feeds honeybees.
Coastal Plant. Salt tolerant.
The foliage can also be used in floral displays.

Height 1.5m. Width 1m.

Restio Festuciformis
Green Grass Reed

This is a very ornamental small plant, rather unusual for a restio in that it does not look like a reed, but much more like an attractive grass species. 'Festuciformis' has a soft tufted look, bright green during the vegetative phase and a shiny golden browny green during the flowering and seeding phase.

It is ideally suited to most free draining soils in full sun or very light shade with plenty of air movement around it. Avoid heavy clay soils. Responds to additional moisture over Summer or during periods of prolonged dryness.

An excellent small Restio that looks great mass planted or as a individual plant in a rockery.

Can also be used as a patio plant.

Height 50cm. Width 50cm.

Rhodocoma Arida

An erect tussock like Restio with attractive plumes followed by decorative arching seed heads.

Prefers dry areas in full sun.

Rhodocoma arida is a tidy plant for drier sites. Erect narrow columns of bright blue-grey distinguish this species from most other restios. Its branched juvenile foliage vanishes with time, and the thin stems stand erect.

Dense clumps typically reach 5-6' in height, and the effect stays very vertical if watering is not too generous. This restio can tolerate winter temperatures of -6°C. or less. Moderate to occasional watering.

An attractive feature landscape plant.

Height 2m. Width 1m+.

Rhodocoma Capensis

A very elegant reed-like plant with slightly arching branches which have whorls of finely divided, feathery looking foliage.

The stems are quite sturdy and have distinct nodes like a bamboo. At each node there is a thick whorl of finely divided, fertile branches, giving the whole plant a feathery appearance. The colour of the foliage-like branches is a deep green with small brown inflorescences at the tips.

It is a very hardy and tough species, and very adaptable. The plants have proved hardy in cold climates, withstanding temperatures of - 7 ºC.

Since its introduction into the horticultural market, 'Rhodocoma capensis' has proved to be a popular plant for gardens and large formal plantings, with its elegant, evergreen appearance. This is the most commercially useful aspect of the species.

Height 2m. Width 1m.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

The genus name Rhodocoma is derived from the Greek word rhodo, meaning rose or red, and kome meaning hair, and refers to the terminal clusters of the reddish inflorescence. The Latin species name, gigantea, meaning giant or very large, describes this restio perfectly since this is the tallest species in the genus Rhodocoma.

Rhodocoma Gigantea
Large Restio

One of the tallest and most attractive Restios. It develops into a large grass like plant with lush foliage. The upright stems gently arch with the weight of the bright green feathery foliage.

As with all restios, 'Rhodocoma gigantea' is wind pollinated. The tall, pendulous male spikelets are blown by the wind, allowing the pollen to be carried away and deposited onto the delicate pink styles of the female plant.

It likes deep free draining moist acidic soils in an open sunny situation. Responds to additional moisture over Summer or during periods of prolonged dryness.

These tufted, reed-like perennials have great horticultural value as they are becoming more popular in landscaping. This elegant, large, grass-like plant with its lush foliage will make a focal feature in any garden.

A great plant when planted within a group of other restios for a beautiful display
Creates a very decorative garden plant for a large garden
Useful for landscaping
Coastal tolerant
Excellent for cut flower and floral work

Height 3m. Width 1.5m.

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