Restio subverticillatus has been cultivated overseas under a variety of names for more than a century. It has been grown outside in protected situations in the milder climates of Ireland and Cornwall as well as in pots which were placed inside during the winter. In South Africa it can be grown in gardens in informal drifts or as a pot plant on a patio or terrace.

The plants are best grown from seed, which has a good germination percentage and germinates even better if treated with smoke or 'Instant Smoke Plus' seed primer. This species can grow in full sun, partial- or half shade and prefers 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 a little additional watering but grow better with a normal garden watering regime. 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 sulfate 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.

This is a fast growing species that will reach about 1 m high one year after sowing and will have formed a handsome plant three years after sowing. The plants produce a new growth flush in the centre of the plant every year. The individual stems start to deteriorate during the third year, but by that time already two new flushesof growth will have appeared for the yearly renewal of the plant. This governs the maintenance of the plant, which really only needs a regular removal of the brown, dead stems at the outside part of the plant.