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Grass Like

Restio festuciformis

A tufted, grass-like evergreen perennial to 50cm tall, with branching, narrowly linear, light green stems that turn yellowish-green during flowering. Tiny flowers are carried in feathery, brown spikelets during winter and early spring. Plant it where the wind can catch its grassy stems

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Restionaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Restio is a genus of dioecious (with male and female flowers are borne on separate plants) perennials with a rhizome-creeping or tufted habit that superficially have a rush-like appearance. Leaves are reduced to persistent sheaths enclosing the bases of the flowering stems. Originating from Southern Africa and Australia
Name status: Correct
Plant range: South Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light with low humidity. When in growth, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every month; water sparingly in winter. Outdoors, grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, preferably acid soil in full sun. In frost-prone areas, plant out after the last frosts; lift and pot up in autumn and overwinter in a cool, dry place

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, or by division of clumps in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Remove dead stems from the outer edge of the clump in early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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