Rhodocoma capensis Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Rhodocoma capensis — 9cm / 0.5L
Cape Restio

Rhodocoma capensis

£8.99 £9.99 SAVE 10%
Hardy in the UKSun-lovingEvergreenRHS award winner
Pot size
9cm / 0.5L £8.99

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Description

The Rhodocoma capensis, better known as the Cape restio, is one of the most graceful architectural evergreens you can add to an exotic garden. It forms tall, arching stems clothed in fine, feathery, bright green plume-like foliage that sways at the lightest breeze, a soft bamboo-like fountain that brings movement and texture where a stiffer plant would fall flat. Think of it as an ornamental grass with real presence, ideal for exotic borders, gravel schemes and large containers.

Native to the Cape Fold Mountains of South Africa, this reed-like member of the Restionaceae is borderline hardy in Britain (RHS H4) and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is fully evergreen, so the shimmering green plumes hold their colour through the year. Whether it thrives comes down to grasping what genuinely threatens it: waterlogged, freezing winters. Ground that sits sodden while temperatures drop destroys it far faster than a clean frost in gritty soil ever would, so it drinks up moisture through the growing months yet demands a sheltered position with genuinely sharp winter drainage, plus frost cover in colder gardens.

Water regularly through the first couple of summers to settle the roots, keeping the soil moist but never sodden, after which established clumps cope with short dry spells. Its upright, fountain-like form makes it a superb structural partner in architectural foliage plantings and a striking specimen in large pots and containers, where you can move it under cover in the worst weather. For more on how hardy exotics behave through the seasons, see our hardy exotics guide.

Explore the full range of hardy exotics to build a bold, textural planting scheme. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, carefully selected for a healthy root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Cape Restio

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Cape Restio

Rhodocoma capensis needs full sun and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −10°C, standing an average UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Architectural Coastal & Exposed Exotic Borders Pots & Containers

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H4 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −10°C

borderline hardy (RHS H4) to about -10C once established; keep the crown dry and mulched over winter and fleece in prolonged hard frost.

Position

Full sunNorth-facingEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered

full sun for the densest, most upright plumes, in a sheltered but airy spot; it takes coastal and exposed sites well, which makes it a fine choice among coastal plants.

Soil

ClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHNeutral pH

fertile clay, loam or sand on the acid to neutral side, with sharp winter drainage the single most important factor.

Watering

Water regularly through the first two summers so the roots settle in, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Established clumps appreciate steady moisture in warm spells yet still need free drainage underneath; an annual spring mulch and a light balanced feed keep the feathery green stems arching and lush. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first two summers so the roots settle in, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Established clumps appreciate steady moisture in warm spells yet still need free drainage underneath; an annual spring mulch and a light balanced feed keep the feathery green stems arching and lush.

Mature size

Height1.5-2.5 m
Spread0.5-1 m

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Sep-Nov

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

In spring, remove old and faded culms at the base to keep the clump fresh. Do not cut this reed-like evergreen back hard.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity to people or pets; generally considered non-toxic. Its high tannin content makes the foliage unpalatable to animals.

Native range

S. Africa (Cape)

Family

Restionaceae

Also known as

Rhodocoma capensis

Genus

Rhodocoma
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rhodocoma capensis hardy in the UK?

Rhodocoma capensis is borderline hardy in Britain, rated RHS H4, and copes with short spells to around -10C once established. The bigger risk is not cold on its own but cold combined with winter wet, so a sheltered spot with sharp drainage matters far more than raw temperature. In colder gardens keep the crown dry, mulch deeply and fleece during hard frosts. See our hardy exotics guide for seasonal expectations.

How big does Rhodocoma capensis grow?

Cape restio forms a clump-forming fountain of arching stems, typically reaching about 1.5 to 2.5 m tall and 0.5 to 1 m across, usually within two to five years. Its upright, feathery habit gives real height and movement in exotic borders without the bulk of a shrub.

How do I care for a Cape restio in winter?

Give it a sheltered position with genuinely free-draining soil, because waterlogged, cold ground over winter is the main cause of losses, not frost alone. Improve heavy soils with grit, keep the crown dry under a deep mulch, and fleece in prolonged hard frost in colder gardens. Plants grown in pots can simply be moved under cover for the worst spells; browse more plants for pots for the same approach.

Is Rhodocoma capensis evergreen?

Yes. Rhodocoma capensis is a fully evergreen restio, holding its bright green, plume-like stems right through the year, which makes it a valuable source of structure and texture in architectural foliage schemes when other plants have died back.

Can Rhodocoma capensis be grown in pots?

It is an excellent container plant. Its neat clump-forming base and tall arching stems suit large pots on a patio, and growing it this way lets you move it to a sheltered spot over winter. Use a free-draining, loam-based compost and never let it sit waterlogged. See our wider range of coastal and exposed plants that thrive in the same breezy, well-drained conditions.

Is Rhodocoma capensis toxic to pets?

There are no reports of toxicity to people, cats or dogs, and Cape restio is generally considered non-toxic. Its high tannin content actually makes the foliage unpalatable to animals. As with any plant, discourage pets from chewing the stems. Explore more of our hardy exotics for a safe, textural planting scheme.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

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Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Rhodocoma capensis
£8.99 £9.99