This clump forming rhizomatous bamboo-like perennial has upright culms with brownish leaf-like sheaths at each nodes and produces long needle-like pendant green branches. The male and female flowers appear in a terminal cluster during spring.

Hardiness zones 9 to 11

Elegia capensisis naturally found in South Africa and is widespread from the western to the southern and eastern Cape growing up from near sea level to the mountain ranges at an altitude of 1,600 m (5,249 ft), commonly along water courses or in a damp positions near seepage.

It prefers an open to exposed sunny to semi-shade position and grows in well drained to boggy, reliably moist, poor sandy soils but will tolerate most garden loams that are tending acidic with a pH range from 5.6 to 6.5. It is frost and a drought tender and re-shoots after low intensity fire.

The Horsetail Restio is grown for its clumping habit and its attractive pendant branchlets. It is planted in parks and gardens as a specimen or along borders for screening. It is also planted around water features for a bamboo like effect and can be grown in large tubs or planter boxes as long as they are kept moist.

It is suitable for coastal and low mountain regions and establishes in 2-3 years but care should be taken as its self seeds readily and may become a weed. The rhizome also spreads quickly and can become invasive. The young stems with their leaf sheaths are cut and used in floral arrangements which can last for weeks. ID 3347

Elegia (el-EE-jee-a) capensis(ka-PEN-sis)

Restionaceae(RES-tee-on-AY-see-ee)
Restionales