Elegia capensis
Horsetail Restio
Description
This attractive perennial resembles a grass gone wild. Stalks reach 6'-8' tall, with even spacing of long feathery branches and paper-like bracts. Plants can spread 7' wide. Clusters of small brown flowers appear above foliage in fall and winter. This plant needs constant moisture and well draining soil in full or part sun. It is dramatic when moving in the wind.
Plant Type
Perennial
Height Range
6-12'
Width Range
6-12'
Flower Color
n/a
Flower Season
Winter, Fall
Leaf Color
Green
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Half
Water
Medium
Growth Rate
Moderate
Soil Type
Sandy, Loam
Soil Condition
Rich, Well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral
Adverse Factors
n/a
Design Styles
Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish
Accenting Features
Fall Color, Showy Flowers, Specimen, Unusual Foliage, Unusual Shape
Seasonal Interest
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Location Uses
Background, Roadside, Swimming Pool, Walls / Fences
Special Uses
Container, Filler, Mass Planting
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Water Saving Tip:
Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs.
If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.