Cape Restios Plant Care

Cape Restios (Thamnochortus cinereus) belongs to the Restionaceae family within the Thamnochortus genus.

Cape Restios displays a clumping, upright grass-like growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Cape Restios produces small inconspicuous flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Cape Restios every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Cape Restios thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Thamnochortus cinereus tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Cape Restios prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Sandy, well-draining soil mix with peat moss and perlite. Good drainage is essential for Cape Restios to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Cape Restios every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and sandy, well-draining soil mix with peat moss and perlite. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Cape Restios is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Cape Restios can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Cape Restios while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Cape Restios is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Cape Restios can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to thamnochortus insignis plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Cape Restios is susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Cape Restios grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Cape Restios as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.