Elegia capensis

horsetail restio
Horsetail restio thrives in sandy soils with regular moisture, minimal fertilizer. Graceful, soft, upright look between bamboo and horsetail fern.
height 5–8ft
width 3–4ft
tolerates Moist Soil, Pots, Wind
water
needs		 Moderate – High
water
info		 Restios are drought-tolerant plants, but they’ll look their best if you give them weekly or bi-weekly water once established. Restios are also quite adaptable to high levels of watering, provided there is good drainage.

These plants grow in seasonally dry areas of Africa, but in low swales and gullies where water tends to collect.
hardy
to		 20F
exposure Part Sun – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing Acid 1/2 Strength, Bloodmeal, Fish Emulsion, Low Needs
origin South Africa
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 14–17, 20–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Generally thrives without fertilizer, but if you want to fertilize, use a high-nitrogen, low-phosphorus and low-potassium fertilizer such as blood meal or fish emulsion. Restio prefers lightly acidic soil; add sulfur or iron if necessary.
You can thin out older stems in late winter to keep the plant looking fresh or cut down all the stems to the ground before new shoots arrive in spring. Avoid pruning the stems halfway down; this won’t hurt the plant, but it won’t look its best.

Special Interest

Stems become nodding and fountain-like in the summer, under heavy blooms.

Plants are dioecious (male and female on separate plants), though the flowers look very similar.