San Marcos Growers LogoSan Marcos Growers
New User
Wholesale Login
Enter Password
Home Products Purchase Gardens About Us Resources Contact Us
COVID-19 Response
Search Utilities
Plant Database
Search Plant Name
Detail Search Avanced Search Go Button
Search by size, origins,
details, cultural needs
Website Search Search Website GO button
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  2023 PLANTS

PRIME LIST
  for JUNE


Natives at San Marcos Growers
Succulents at San Marcos Growers
 Weather Station

 
Products > Cannomois grandis "Large Seed Form"
 
Cannomois grandis "Large Seed Form" - Tall Bell Reed
   
Image of Cannomois grandis
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Grass-like
Family: Restionaceae (Restios)
Origin: South Africa (Africa)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: Brown
Bloomtime: Spring
Height: 10-16 feet
Width: 4-5 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F
Cannomois grandis “Large Seed Form” (Tall Bell Reed) This is a robust form of Cannomois grandis with stems that can reach up to 12 to 15 feet tall with clumps that are a bit more open than the smaller form with stiffly erect culms that have persistent bright reddish-pink sheaths and drooping hair-like foliage. The new growth is particularly showy and male plants have a spectacular inflorescence of hundreds of spherical shiny brown flowers while females produce spindle-shaped spikelets covered with hard bracts. The seed of this plant is over twice the size of the seed of the regular form. Plant in full sun to light shade. Requires a well-drained acidic soil and regular irrigation. Hardy at least to the mid 20°'s F. Bell Reed is native to streams or wet mountainous areas of the Cape area of South Africa (from Clanwilliam to Humansdorp) from sea level up to around 5,000 feet. Current revision of the genus by Dr. Peter Linder of the University of Zurich has split this plant away from Cannomois virgata and likely will end up as a form of Cannomois grandis but the genus is considered to be a taxonomic mess. This large seed form plant is overall larger than the plants we originally started growing in 2003 as Cannomois virgata and currently still grow as our regular form of Cannomois grandis based on Linder's revision. To add confusion to the mix, there is the possibility that hybrids of Cannomois are occurring in cultivation. This seed comes from the Restio master, Martin Grantham, through the Plantsman's Pocket listing at Seedhunt Seeds. This plant is prominently displayed in several San Francisco Bay gardens that were supplied by Martin Grantham.  Information displayed on this page about  Cannomois grandis "Large Seed Form" is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
 
  [MORE INFO]