Elegia elephantina

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Elegia elephantina?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants

Synonyms

Chondropetalum elephantinum

Award of Garden Merit
Grass Like
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
4 Suppliers

An evergreen perennial to 1.5m, forming a dense clump of slender, upright, reed-like stems; these are encircled at intervals with brown sheaths. In summer it produces feathery dark brown flower spikes

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Restionaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright, Clump forming
Genus
Elegia is a genus of grass-like plants endemic to Cape Province in South Africa. Some species are grown as ornamentals with their decorative golden to dark brown flower spikes. Flowers can be white to greenish yellow and are fairly small and insignificant.
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S Africa (Cape)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile to poor soil in full sun. Keep plants well-watered until established

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Coastal
  • Gravel garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free