Rhodocoma gigantea
Dekriet
Description
This grass-like plant in the Restio family (Restionaceae) is an elegant large growing plant to 6 feet tall (to 9 in native habitat) with upright stems that arch over and droop under the weight of the cushions of very finely textured, bright green, lush foliage. Male and female plants have different flowers and each are an attractive feature from when they first emerge in winter until they mature in late spring. The male flowers are dark brown spikelets that hang down along tall stems to 6- 8 feet while the female flowers are lower by several feet and have pink hairy styles protruding from each brown spikelet. Plant in full sun to part shade. Irrigate in the spring when plants are in active growth. Hardy to at least 20° and we have a gardener in Oregon who tells us that it went through the very cold winter of 2008/2009, with temperatures down to at least 17° without damage but Suncrest Nursery reported damage to this species at 20° commenting that it "burned the foliage to a very attractive burnt orange color, but the plants recovered quickly the following spring with new shoots". A very showy container plant. Hails from the seaward side of Langeberg and Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains in South Africa.
Plant Type
Grass
Height Range
3-6'
Width Range
Flower Color
n/a
Flower Season
Spring
Leaf Color
Light Green
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Full, Half
Water
Low
Growth Rate
Soil Type
Soil Condition
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Adverse Factors
n/a
Design Styles
Seascape
Accenting Features
n/a
Seasonal Interest
n/a
Location Uses
n/a
Special Uses
Wind Break
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Water high water-use plants separately from low water-use plants.
Low water-use plants can grow with one-half the water needed by high water-use plants, and can be easily damaged from over watering.