Elegia capensis

Elegia capensis, also known as Cape restio or Horsetail Restio, is a large and unique perennial plant with a remarkable silhouette, resembling both a horsetail and a bamboo, although it has no relation to these plants. Its moving and airy vegetation is composed of downy, branched, bright green, leafless stems. It is a highly ornamental plant in the garden, particularly around water features in regions without heavy frost.

Elegia capensis is a botanic species endemic to the fynbos, a type of South African heathland swept by the wind and regularly devastated by fires. In this region of the Cape, three major plant families are gathered: the proteas, heathers, and restios, among which the Elegia capensis belongs.

The Cape restio is a creeping rhizomatous perennial 'herb' with a rather slow growth. Its habit is bushy and slightly spreading. It reaches a height of 1.5m (4 ft 11 in) with a base diameter of 90cm (35.4 in) (1m (3 ft 4 in) to 1.20m (3 ft 11 in) for the crown) in open ground under our climates. In pots, it will reach a height of 1.20m (3 ft 11 in) and spread over 50cm (19.7 in) at the base, with the crown reaching 80cm (31.5 in) in diameter. When conditions are optimal, this plant will spread laterally to form large clumps over 1m (3 ft 4 in) in diameter. It develops lovely downy and channelled stems. Along its stems there are clusters of feathery branches at regular intervals, densely gathered in whorls at the nodes. A large papery bract envelops each whorl, giving the plant a real decorative value at this stage. These large bracts produce a soft and intriguing rustling when they dry out. The stems are devoid of true leaves but bear small bronze bracts. The flowering takes place in May-June, in the form of small brown bracts at the tips of the branches, followed by the formation of fruits resembling small winged nuts.

Elegia capensis is not very hardy, especially in its early years. However, a well-established plant will be able to withstand -12°C (10.4 °F) on the odd day, if planted in a well-draining soil. It is used along water features, where it appreciates moist soil, or to adorn the surroundings of a swimming pool. It can be used in a very decorative way in pots on the terrace, to be protected over winter in cold climates. In open ground in mild climates, or in pots elsewhere, it is always successful when combined with proteas, shrubby heathers, Leptospermum, and callistemons.

The name Elegia comes from the Greek elageia and refers to the chant of lamentations, perhaps due to the rustling emitted by the papery bracts surrounding the young branches at the nodes.