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In Bloom

Look for Restios in the Demonstration Garden (Bed 3R) across from the circular arbor and throughout the South African Cape Province Garden (Beds 27, 30, 32, 44.)

Location Scientific Name Restionaceae Common Name Restios Family Restionaceae Plant Type Perennial grass-like plant Environment Tolerant of dry conditions once established, most restios need excellent drainage. Do not use fertilizers that contain phosphorus. Bloom Blooms consist of seedheads which form on the grasslike stalks. Uses Provides height and movement in the garden. Good choice for south exposure, tolerant of windy spots with minimal irrigation. More Info Restios in Corwall More about South Africa's plant life Profile Contributor: Fred Bové

The Cape Province of South Africa, an area of 100 square miles at the tip of the continent, is a botanical wonderland. Two-thirds of the plants are endemic, meaning they occur nowhere else in the world. More than 8,550 species have been counted, twice as many as in California, which is four times larger.

The Restios are a major component of the vegetation of the plant community called the “Fynbos,” Afrikaans for “fine bush.” This refers to the fine, needle-like leaves of many of the plants in this community. Many species of these reed-like, leafless plants, some growing from spreading underground rhizomes, others from tussocks, appear like a hybrid mixture of grass, bamboo, rush and horsetail. The culms, or stems, some as high as 9 feet in height, in shades of color from pale grayish-blue through every variety of green to silver gray, bring color and structure to any garden.

Highly flammable, restios regenerate from their underground tubers or tussocks after wild fires. They have traditionally been used by the South African people for roof thatching that can last up to fifty years. Restios make a fine addition to our water wise gardens.

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Magnolia campbellii January	Magnolia denudata February	Magnolia x veitchii March
Iris douglasiana April

Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' January	Magnolia campbellii 'Darjeeling' February	Bomarea spp. March
Rhododendron occidentale April	Polystichum munitum May	x Chiranthofremontia lenzii June
Salvia leucantha July	Hydrangea seemannii August	Wollemia nobilis September
Cyathea cooperi October	Pinus radiata November	Correa spp. December

Garrya elliptica January	Magnolia x soulangeana February	Senecio glastifolius March
Ribes spp. April	Oxalis oregana May	Calandrinia grandiflora June
Taxus baccata July	Romneya coulteri August	Passiflora parritae September
Malvaviscus arboreus October	Monterey Cypress November	Aloe arborescens December

Aloe plicatilis January	Banksia seminuda February	Zantedeschia aethiopica March
Magnolia laevifolia April	Araucaria heterophylla May	Toxicodendron diversilobum June
Clarkia sp. July	Agapanthus August	Brugmansia September
Cedrus spp. October	Protea repens November	Camellia sinensis December

Thujopsis dolabrata January	Gordonia longicarpa February	Rojasianthe superba March
Echium spp. April	Iris douglasiana May	Digitalis purpurea June
Felicia amelloides July	Ceroxylon quindiuense August	Amaryllis belladonna September
Ginkgo biloba October	Acer morrisonense November	Ilex aquifolium December

Picea sitchensis January	Telanthophora grandifolia February	Aeonium arboreum 'Schwartzkopf' March
Leptospermum April	Salvia gesneraeflora May	Lavandula spp. June
Pelargonium July	Fuchsia paniculata August	Luma apiculata September
Luculia October	Arbutus unedo November	Cycad December

Restionaceae January	Hellebores February	Ceanothus March
Rhododendron April	Psoralea pinnata May	Fremontodendron californicum June
Leucadendron argenteum July	Crocosmia August	Gunnera tinctoria September
Pellaea rotundifolia October	Fuchsia boliviana November	Erica canaliculata December

Magnolia campbelli January	Magnolia denudata February	Camellia March
Geranium maderense April	Acmena smithii May	Eschscholzia californica June
Dendromecon harfordii July	Romneya coulteri August	Eupatorium purpureum September
Epilobium canum sp. October	Grevillea spp. November	Drimys winteri December