REED
Types of REED
Eligia capensis
This restio is a tall, dark green, elegant plant with large, decorative, papery sheaths along the stems. The stems are quite thick and divided into sections like bamboo plants. At each node there is a clump of long, needle-like branches, which give the plant its horsetail-like appearance.
- PLANT NAME: Eligia capensis
- COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Horsetail restio
- COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Besemriet, Fonteinriet
- INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indiginous
- EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
- HEIGHT: 2-3m
- TIME OF FLOWER: Spring
- COLOUR OF FLOWER: Brown, Yellow
- LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun → semi-shade
- WATER NEEDS: High
- SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
- AVAILABLE SIZES: 15 cm
Elegia tectorum
Elegia tectorum has an upright, symmetrical, tufted reed-like appearance with thin, dark green stems topped with dark brown flowers in slender compact spikes in autumn.
- PLANT NAME: Elegia tectorum
- COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Cape thatching reed, Deckreed
- COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Dekriet
- INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indiginous
- EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
- HEIGHT & WIDTH: 1-2m x 2-3m
- TIME OF FLOWER: Autumn
- COLOUR OF FLOWER: Brown
- LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
- WATER NEEDS: High
- SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
- AVAILABLE SIZES: 15 cm
Elegia tectorum Fish hoek
A dwarf version of the elegia tectorum. Has an upright, symmetrical, tufted reed-like appearance with thin, dark green stems topped with dark brown flowers in slender compact spikes in autumn.
- PLANT NAME: Elegia tectorum Fish hoek
- INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indiginous
- EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
- TIME OF FLOWER: Autumn
- COLOUR OF FLOWER: Brown
- LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
- WATER NEEDS: High
- SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Loam
- AVAILABLE SIZES: 15 cm
Juncus effusus
A very hardy, evergreen, tufted, perennial rush that grows in wet areas as well as in a normally irrigated garden. The grass-like leaves are very variable.
- PLANT NAME: Juncus effusus
- COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Soft rush
- COMMON AFRIKAANS NAME: Biesie
- INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indiginous
- EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
- HEIGHT: 1m
- TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Summer
- COLOUR OF FLOWER: Yellow, Brown
- LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
- WATER NEEDS: High
- SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Brack/saline
- AVAILABLE SIZES: 15 cm
Juncus kraussii
A perennial herb that grows in large colonies where it occurs. Its leaves are tough, round and spine-tipped, and the sheath is shiny black.
- PLANT NAME: Juncus kraussii
- COMMON ENGLISH NAME: Dune slack rush
- INDIGENOUS/ EXOTIC: Indiginous
- EVERGREEN/ DECIDUOUS: Evergreen
- HEIGHT: 1.5m
- TIME OF FLOWER: Spring, Summer
- COLOUR OF FLOWER: Yellow, Brown
- LIGHT PREFERENCE: Full sun
- WATER NEEDS: High
- SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Sandy, Brack/saline
- AVAILABLE SIZES: 15 cm