Ornamental grass ID

raisingirl

Does anyone know this one? Ignore the red leaves at the base - that's an oxalis growing in amongst it. My mother had it in a pot. I planted it in the garden and it's grown o nearly 2m tall, about a foot diameter. Doesn't self seed. Hardy. Evergreen (well, dark purple). I've dug it up because it's far too big for where I'd put it (hence it currently being in a bucket). Before I try to divide it and replant it, I'd like to ID it in the hope of not making the same mistake twice.

K67

Stems are very bamboo like but sadly don't know what it is but I know you can saw bamboo in half through the root ball to make 2 plants.

raisingirl

Thanks K67. I can't find any types of bamboo that have the feathery leaf - do you know of any? If I can't ID it I'll try the bread knife approach and hope for the best, but it would be good to have a bit more of a clue. I can't even figure out a species

Obelixx

If it is bamboo it will probably die after flowering but the RHS says it's not always the end - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=79 

K67

Youre right Obelixx it is a flowering bamboo -  never seen that happen before.

raisingirl

Well if it is it's been flowering continuously for about 4 years. So I don't think it's that. It's never had any bamboo type leaf, just the fine fronds you can just about see on the stems in the last photo

Papi Jo

Could it be Melica altissima 'Atropurpurea'?

punkdoc

Maybe a Restio.

K67

Nice to have been told it's always been flowering would have saved Obelixx time spent finding out information for you and me time reading it!
We all want to help forum members but do need as much detail as possible to help.
Hope the other suggestions are useful

Obelixx

Whatever it is, it can be divided by cutting up with an old bread knife or a saw, depending on size but this is best done in spring as new growth starts and after removing all the old stems.   

Far too late now and, in my experience, grasses sulk and die if you do it in autumn and I wouldn't risk it now when it's in full flower so try and give it a bigger pot or a temporary hole with some decent soil and lots of water.  Looks parched.

raisingirl

punkdoc said:

Maybe a Restio.

Oh - punk - I think you may have got it. It could be a Rhodocoma capensis, if a rather sickly one.

The South African website says these don't like being divided, so that could be a really good save - thank you 

K67 - if I'd known it was relevant, I'd have said it. The trouble with having no idea what a plant is, one has no idea what it's defining characteristics may be.