Perennials, Tropicals > Elegia > Elegia tectorum > Elegia tectorum
Elegia tectorum
Cape Reed, Cape Rush, Thatching Reed, Cape Thatching Reed
| Family |
| Restionaceae |
| Genus |
| Elegia |
| Species |
| tectorum |
| Category |
| Perennials, Tropicals |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10a - 10b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H2 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 1 - 5 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 34 - 40 |
| Height |
| 1.5 m |
| Spread |
| 75 cm |
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Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Elegia tectorum is a bushy reed that resembles horsetails. The slim, stiff, slender shoots form a rounded dome of foliage with a somewhat open demeanour. |
| Cultivation |
| Requires full sun in an open disposition, best suited to warmer climates where frosts and winters are mild. May be grown in a pot or planted directly in the landscape. If potted, plant in large 60 L pots, using an ericaceous mix with about 10 - 20 % composted bark chips for drainage. A slow release fertilizer such as osmocote may also prove advantageous. Keep plants evenly moist as they do not tolerate drying out. When planting directly in the garden it is best to do in late spring to early summer to allow plants to establish. A layer of coarse mulch assists in retaining moisture and provides some protection in winter. Tying foliage if winter snows are expected protects the plant's crown. Some winter burn may occur, however old foliage should not be removed in the spring until new growth has started to emerge. Tolerant of alkaline soils. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| Habitat |
| Marshes and moist areas on deep sand in the Eastern and Western Cape, from Clanwilliam down to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. |
| Propagation |
| By division or seed. Seed germination seems to be enhanced by the application of mild smoke. |
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