Search Utilities Plant Database Search Plant Name Detail Search Search by size, origins, details, cultural needs Website Search Search for any word Site Map Retail Locator Plant Listings PLANT TYPE PLANT GEOGRAPHY PLANT INDEX ALL PLANT LIST PLANT IMAGE INDEX PLANT INTROS SPECIALTY CROPS NEW  2022 PLANTS PRIME LIST   for MAY  Weather Station

Products > Rhodocoma gigantea   Rhodocoma gigantea - Dekriet Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.   [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Grass-like Family: Restionaceae (Restios) Origin: South Africa (Africa) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Brown Bloomtime: Not Significant Height: 4-6 feet Width: 3-4 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F Rhodocoma gigantea (Dekriet) - This grass-like plant in the Restio family (Restionaceae) is an elegant large growing plant to 6 feet tall (to 9 in native habitat) with upright stems that arch over and droop under the weight of the cushions of very finely textured, bright green, lush foliage. Male and female plants have different flowers and each are an attractive feature from when they first emerge in winter until they mature in late spring. The male flowers are dark brown spikelets that hang down along tall stems to 6- 8 feet while the female flowers are lower by several feet and have pink hairy styles protruding from each brown spikelet. Plant in full sun to part shade. Irrigate in the spring when plants are in active growth. Hardy to at least 20° and we have a gardener in Oregon who tells us that it went through the very cold winter of 2008/2009, with temperatures down to at least 17° without damage but Suncrest Nursery reported damage to this species at 20° commenting that it "burned the foliage to a very attractive burnt orange color, but the plants recovered quickly the following spring with new shoots". A very showy container plant. Hails from the seaward side of Langeberg and Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains in South Africa.  The information that is presented on this page is based on research we have conducted about this plant in our library and from reliable online sources. We also consider observations we have made of it in the nursery's garden and in other gardens we have visited, as well how it performs in our nursery crops out in the field. We incorporate comments that we receive from others as well and welcome getting feedback from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they know of cultural information that would aid others in growing  Rhodocoma gigantea.     [MORE INFO]