Elegia tectorum Fish Hoek

Elegia tectorum Fish Hoek is a dwarf and very elegant form of Elegia tectorum, a robust South African perennial that resembles a horsetail or reed, both in appearance and its preference for moist soils. It forms a small, very dense, evergreen clump, composed of stiff, leafless stems, greenish-grey, streaked with brown. And its bronze-golden flower spikes that appear in summer remain decorative for a long time, until the heart of winter. Of modest stature, less expansive than its older sibling, this variety is easier to integrate into an exotic or contemporary setting, in the garden or on the terrace. To succeed in its cultivation, plant it in a cool, well-drained, sandy soil, in a mild climate. 

Elegia tectorum, recently known as Chondropetalum tectorum, also known as Restio, is a botanical species endemic to the fynbos, a type of wind-swept South African heathland regularly ravaged by fires. In this region of the Cape, three major plant families are gathered: proteas, heathers, and restios, which include Elegia tectorum, the subject of this discussion.  It is a rhizomatous perennial plant with a weakly trailing rootstock and rather slow growth, reaching a height of up to 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) and a spread of 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) in its natural habitat. The 'Fish Hoek' cultivar, generally similar to the species, has been selected for its particularly compact habit.

This herbaceous perennial forms a clump of thin, erect stems emerging from the rootstock in a very dense clump that slightly tapers upwards. It will not exceed 80 cm (31.5 in) in height and 50 cm (19.7 in) in diameter in our climates. It develops thin, unbranched cylindrical stems. Along its stems, at regular intervals, dark brown nodes form, contrasting with the slightly glaucous colour of the leafless stems, carrying only a foliar sheath that splits at the base. This plant is dioecious, meaning there are male and female plants. Flowering occurs in summer, earlier or later depending on the climate, in the form of long bronze-golden spikes, followed by the formation of brown capsules.

Elegia tectorum is above all a botanical curiosity, meant to be showcased in a beautiful pot or at the edge of a small landscaped pond on the terrace. Less hardy than horsetails and rushes, but perhaps more sculptural, this South African plant dislikes severe frosts. An established plant will, however, be able to withstand -10°C (14 °F), on occasion, allowing it to be grown in the ground in mild climates. It can be used on the banks of water features, where it appreciates moist soil, or to adorn the surroundings of a swimming pool, planted in a large container and kept moist. It can also be used in a very decorative way on the terrace, to be protected in cold climates. In the ground or in a pot, it always makes a successful combination with the astonishing Boronias, horsetails, dwarf bamboos (Sasa tessellata, Pleioblastus fortunei...), small miscanthus or even sedges. Its flowers are beautiful in dried bouquets.