You should email the webmaster Spike at webmaster@gardenweb.com

Here's a good link of a Grass specialists:
http://www.ornamentalgrass.co.uk/

and here's a link to our local university site with some pics of grasses we all grow round here:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/floriculture/RR/ornamental_grasses/ ornamental_grass_photos.htm

RJ

Also, would like to know where I could buy more restios; any suggestions appreciated.

Jan

Tell me about Restio cultural requirements. One note above said, "They all love sun, wind and water, especially when grown in pots."

I'm in Houston area (zone 9a) and we have lots of humidity year round. Some African plants do fine, especially if they come from riverine or seasonally wet areas. Other African plants detest it here and die as fast as they can (e.g., Proteas spp.). They often do OK in winter but poop out when they hit July. Maybe species from Tasmania would be a better choice for this area?

So, what about Restios. Are there any that are tolerant of too much humidity, heat and rain? They sure are attractive.

Conroe Joe

Most of the restios being grown here in California are from Western Cape/mediterranean winter rainfall areas, and are mostly adapted to winter wet feet and summer dry conditions, although others are perfectly happy with well watered conditions year round, although I would assume they should be planted out with good drainage and air circulation in some place as hot and humid as Houston. They will certainly be easier to keep alive there than most Proteas, which are very prone to fungal diseases in hot humid summers. I would think that two of the most easily available restios such as Chondropetalum tectorum or Elegia capensis would be worth trying, and perhaps better in Texas if planted out in very large containers to ensure good drainage in summer. They are superb as specimen container plants here.

Chondropetalum tectorum naturally spreads and drapes its foliage as it gets more mature, so this is natural. You will also tend to find that with almost all restios, the succeeding year's foliage will be taller and more vigorous, if the plant is happy. In my gardens, I can usually expect stems to be a foot taller each year until they reach full height.

One of the most fully stocked local nurseries for restios is the Dry Garden Nursery in Oakland, on Shattuck Ave between Ashy and Alcatraz. Or you local retail nursery can order them from several wholesale nurseries such as Native Sons Nursery, Suncrest or Monterey Bay Nursery, as well as San Marcos Growers down in Santa Barbara.

I'm quite enamored of them as youthful plants, but the few I've come across seem to get quite large in just a few years. For example, my Chondropetalum tectorum is occupying a rather large space in my smallish garden, probably occupying a diameter of 7-8'. And who knows how large my young Thamnochortus insignis is going to get - even larger I fear!

I was just reading about Elegia capensis on some website, and it was described as getting very large with actively spreading rhizomes (sounded almost like a running bamboo)...

Any suggestions for Restios that stay smaller and, optionally, adapt well to container growing?

Jan