Chondropetalum tectorum

A beautiful and rather special South African restio from the Cape region at the southern tip of the continent, with elegant upright growth and wonderful year-round structure. Fine cylindrical foliage and rich rust-brown jointed stems create a striking textural contrast amongst grasses, perennials and shrubs. Growing to around 1 metre tall, it has proven adaptable in our gardens over many years. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soils, though it is remarkably drought tolerant once established. Frost tolerant to around –5 °C. Equally at home in the garden or a container, it makes an excellent pot specimen where its architectural form can be appreciated up close. Rarely offered for sale, it is difficult to propagate and slow to produce, which is reflected in its price, but its distinctive beauty and reliability make it well worth seeking out. Fun fact: Like many restios, Condropetalum tectorum is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate plants, although the flowers themselves look very similar. In its native range, this species has long been valued as a traditional roof-thatching material, reflected in the species name tectorum, meaning “of roofs”.