Plant Library

Description:

Upright growing, clump forming, arching grass-like plant with stems bearing tight whorls of branchlets of very fine foliage; female flowers are pink and male flowers are pale yellow-green; a truly exotic presentation as a garden accent or along borders

Ornamental Features

Cape Restio features showy spikes of pink flowers with chartreuse overtones rising above the foliage in late spring. Its attractive threadlike leaves remain dark green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Cape Restio is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a shapely form and gracefully arching foliage. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Cape Restio is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Cape Restio will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.