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Elegia elephantina

Elegia elephantina
Restio

2,0/5
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1 reviews
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1 reviews
2 reviews

Plant received in good condition despite the stems. Had a bit of trouble recovering but now it is in good shape.

Julia B, 03/04/2020

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

This Elegia is a large South African perennial that resembles a grass, a rush or a tall sedge. It is particularly architectural, with black nodes scattered along its long, slender green stems and its spikes laden with chocolate-coloured seeds in late summer. Hardy to -8°C and robust, it tolerates sea spray and poor, sandy soils.
Flower size
10 cm
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
1 m
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -6°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time March to May
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Flowering time July to August
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Description

Formerly called Chondropetalum elephantinum, now renamed Elegia elephantina, this tall South African perennial is part of a group of plants called Restio, still relatively unknown in Europe. Mainly native to the Cape Province, they resemble tall grasses, sedges, or rushes and are generally not very resistant to heavy frosts. Elegia elephantina forms a beautiful evergreen clump composed of slender stems punctuated with black nodes and topped in late summer with short spikes laden with dark seeds. Paired with grasses and sedges, this perennial creates magnificent compositions in mild climates. It is also a very attractive plant for the terrace,  well-suited for container gardening.

 

Elegia elephantina, also locally known as Grand Cape Rush, is a botanical species endemic to the fynbos, a type of South African heathland swept by the wind and regularly ravaged by fires. In this region of the Cape, three major plant families are gathered: proteas, heathers, and restios, which include Elegia elephantina.

This tall herbaceous perennial forms a clump of stems emerging from the stump, narrow at the base and widening towards the top. It can reach a height of 1m (3 ft 4 in) with a crown diameter of 1.20m (3 ft 11 in) in open ground under our climates. When conditions are optimal, this plant spreads laterally to form large clumps over 1m (3 ft 4 in) in diameter. It develops slender cylindrical stems that grow somewhat zigzagged, more swollen at the base and with a green-grey colour. Along its stems, at regular intervals, branches emerge from almost black nodes. The stems lack true leaves. This plant is dioecious, meaning there are male and female plants. Flowering occurs in summer, earlier or later depending on the climate, in the form of short brown spikes, followed by the formation of chocolate brown capsules that remain decorative on the plant for a long time.

 

Restio is not very hardy, especially in its early years, but it is not demanding, even in sandy and poor soil. Its tall grass-like silhouette speckled with black makes a strong impression in a naturalistic border, a minimalist setting, or on a contemporary-style terrace. A well-established plant will be able to withstand -8/-9°C (17.6/15.8 °F) occasionally, allowing it to be grown in open ground in mild climates. Drought tolerant and resistant to salt spray, it is particularly well-suited for coastal gardens. It can also be used in a very decorative way on the terrace, to be stored over winter in cold climates. Whether in the ground or in a pot, it always looks good in association with the amazing Boronia, ferns, Dierama, Miscanthus, Carex comans, or even Gomphostigma virgatum. Its flowers are also very beautiful in dried bouquets.

Elegia elephantina in pictures

Elegia elephantina (Foliage) Foliage
Elegia elephantina (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 1 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate normal

Flowering

Flower colour insignificant
Flowering time July to August
Inflorescence Spike

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Elegia

Species

elephantina

Family

Restionaceae

Other common names

Restio

Origin

South Africa

Product reference835191

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Planting and care

Elegia elephantina is best planted in spring, after the last frost, in light, well-drained, loose, deep soil, preferably sandy and poor, even very wet in winter and spring and dry in summer. Once established, this restio can withstand short frosts of around -8°C (17.6 °F). Choose a sunny exposure or, at worst, light shade. It requires no particular maintenance and has no enemies. In pots, use a substrate composed of leaf compost and coarse sand, and monitor watering. Apply green plant fertilizer from spring to autumn (avoid fertilizers rich in phosphorus, symbol P), diluted in water, every 15 days.

Propagation is done by dividing clumps in spring.

 

Planting period

Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time March to May

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Back of border, Container, Greenhouse
Hardiness Hardy down to -6°C (USDA zone 9a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Acidic, Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Well-drained soil, mixed with coarse sand.

Care

Pruning instructions To maintain a dense and branching habit, shorten the branches by one-third during the growth period.
Pruning No pruning necessary
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Needs protection
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