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Elegia elephantina
Elegia elephantina
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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Dispatch by letter from €3.90.
Delivery charge from €5.90 Oversize package delivery charge from €6.90.
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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty
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We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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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
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
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
Intended location
Care
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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The flowering period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, etc.)
It will vary according to where you live:
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions located in USDA zone 8 (France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands).
It will vary according to where you live:
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.