Description:

Upright growing, tuft forming, arching grass-like plant with stems bearing tight whorls of branchlets of very fine foliage; dark brown flower bracts speckled with gold in summer; a truly exotic presentation as a garden accent or along borders

Ornamental Features

Restio features showy spikes of tan flowers rising above the foliage in late spring. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive threadlike leaves remain green in color throughout the year. The dark brown fruits are held in abundance in spectacular clusters from mid summer to mid fall. The bluish-green stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Landscape Attributes

Restio is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a shapely form and gracefully arching foliage. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Restio is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Restio will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 15 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America..