Rhodocoma gigantea - Restio

Rhodocoma gigantea is a tall restio, perhaps the most beautiful and ornamental of its genus. This large South African species is one of those lush perennials that resemble giant grasses, reeds, or bamboo with trailing plumes. It forms a stunning bouquet of tall, upright and arching stems, where foliage is replaced by numerous very fine, bright and vibrant green branches, giving the plant an incredibly feathery and decorative appearance in a natural or contemporary garden. Be surprised and seduced when you grow it in a large container on the terrace or balcony.

Rhodocoma gigantea is a plant in the family Restionaceae. It is a botanical species native to the mountains overlooking the coasts of the South African provinces of Western Cape and Eastern Cape. This plant grows in deep, well-drained soils that are regularly watered.

This large herbaceous perennial forms a clump of stems emerging from the stump, spreading upwards. It reaches a height of 2.50 m (8ft) to 3 m (10ft) after three years, with a diameter of 50 cm (20in) at the base, 1.50 m (5ft) for the crown in open ground under favourable climates. The culms can reach a height of over 3 m (10ft) after 5 to 7 years of cultivation. The plant develops flexible but robust stems, slightly arched, with nodes like bamboo canes. Along these stems, at regular intervals, at the same level as the nodes, are clusters of dense, feathery branches. The stems are devoid of true leaves. At the end of each fertile culm, dark green, smooth or finely ridged, golden-brown inflorescences appear. This dioecious plant bears male or female fertile culms on separate individuals. The male inflorescences are arching, while the female inflorescences are upright and shorter. The former bear pendulous brown spikelets, while the latter have prominent, hairy pink styles. Flowering occurs in summer, depending on the climate. Although theoretically evergreen, above-ground vegetation will be killed by frost, but a well-established plant can regrow from the stump in spring.

Rhodocoma gigantea is hardy down to -8 °C (17.6°F) in well-drained soils when protected by a thick mulch, a claim supported by numerous French and British horticulturists who have tested this stunning plant. Its bamboo-like silhouette, in a monumental burst of large, vibrant green plumes, cannot fail to impress anyone who catches sight of it along a path or in the background of a flowerbed. It can be grown in open ground in regions spared from severe frosts. This perennial will find its place both on the banks of water features, where it appreciates moist soil in very mild climates, and in simply moist soil if it is deep enough. It can also be extremely decorative on the terrace, grown in a large pot that can be overwintered indoors in colder climates. Whether in open ground or in a pot, it always pairs well with the astonishing Boronia, bamboos, Nandina, Dierama, Callistemon, or Gomphostigma virgatum. Its flowers are very attractive in dried bouquets.