The Cape thatching reed makes an excellent garden subject - growing particularly well alongside ponds in moist soil.

In nature, restios are mostly found in the Western Cape fynbos region where they occur together with proteas, pincushions, ericas and other fynbos species. Elegia tectorum occurs naturally in marshes and seeps on deep sand in the Western and Eastern Cape extending from Clanwilliam to Port Elizabeth.

Restios are best grown from seed and since the seed in many species is very fine, it needs to be handled carefully.

The main requirements for growing restios successfully are full sun, a well-drained soil and plenty of air movement. The plants adapt to a large variety of soil types. The best time for planting restios is at the beginning of the rainy season, as the plants need regular watering during the first six weeks to two months after planting. After this initial period the plants can survive with very little additional watering.

They may be fed with standard organic fertilizers such as Seagro or Kelpak, or by sprinkling the surrounding soil with a small amount of ammonium sulphate during the growing season. Restios will respond to regular watering by showing more robust growth, but they are essentially plants which are adapted to a long dry season.

Elegia tectorum has male and female flowers on separate plants. Its green stems are topped with dark brown flowers in slender compact spikes.

The flowers are small and are borne in compound loosely branched inflorescences. Female flowers are protected by golden brown bracts. The Cape thatching reed flowers in autumn (from March to April) and flowering lasts for about 4 weeks.