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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.  Information on this page is based on research conducted in our nursery library, from online sources, as well as from observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery's garden and in other gardens where we have observed it. We also will incorporate comments received from others and welcome getting feedback of any kind from those who have additional information, particularly if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips would aid others in growing Rhodocoma gigantea.     [MORE INFO]