Plant love: Restios

Recently came across the Restio family of plants, and in particular Rhodocoma Capensis: incredible 8 ft tall plumes like a giant silky soft horsetail. It combines the architectural structure of bamboo with an amazing feathery, tactile texture.

 

Top & middle: Restio Elegia Capensis

Bottom: Restio Rhodocoma Capensis

Apparently you don't see these Restios that often in the UK because they're complicated to propagate; the seeds need smoking to encourage germination, which would happen naturally during scrub fires in their native South African landscape.

My own plant arrived in the post this week, looking more like a couple of tiny bits of green wiggly wire than the majestic specimens above. Hopefully in a couple of years it'll turn into an impressive plant.