6 bamboos to grow in pots

Fargesia nitida 'Jiu': an effective living screen

Fargesia ‘Jiu’ is a small-sized bamboo variety with a compact habit, perfectly suited to container culture. It is installed on terraces and balconies, and used as a living screen. Non-running variety, it has orange culms turning plum at ripeness. Upright and slightly trailing, Fargesia ‘Jiu’ has abundant foliage, compound of fine narrow leaves. Of relatively rapid growth, it reaches 2.5 m in height in a few years.

Growing Fargesia nitida ‘Jiu’ in a pot

Hardy bamboo down to -15°C, take care to clear its culms in case of heavy snowfall. When grown in a pot, this bamboo is best planted in late summer or autumn, in a rich, well-drained and cool substrate, acidic or neutral (it tolerates slightly calcareous soil). Undemanding, Fargesia nitida ‘Jiu’ prefers partial shade, and must be watered regularly. A nitrogen fertiliser application in spring and autumn is beneficial, as is annual pruning after winter.

Fargesia murielae 'Bimbo': compact clump-forming bamboo

Fargesia murielae ‘Bimbo’ is grown in a pot for its compact clump and flared upwards in height, perfect as windbreak. Non-running bush, this dwarf bamboo bears robust, slender canes of yellow colour. Erect culms reach on average between 1 m and 1.50 m in height. It has abundant evergreen foliage, compound of small fine lanceolate leaves tapering at their tips. Highly decorative leaves that turn from soft green to orange with ripeness.

To grow Fargesia murielae ‘Bimbo’ in a pot

Umbrella bamboo ‘Bimbo’ is hardy down to -25°C. Although it is one of the dwarf varieties, this bush nevertheless develops rapidly. While it tolerates sunny exposure, Fargesia murielae ‘Bimbo’ favours partial shade (particularly in regions of southern France). Avoid very hot, exposed positions as this bamboo is susceptible to drought. Grown in a pot, Fargesia murielae ‘Bimbo’ prefers a substrate rich, fresh, rather heavy and that retains water.
Make sure to water it regularly, particularly when leaves are very abundant.

Fargesia murielae 'Panda', umbrella bamboo with large leaves

In a pot, Fargesia murielae ‘Panda’ is used as a perfect screen windbreak or as an effective visual screen. It forms a compact clump at the base and flares out upwards, and can reach 2.50 m to 3 m in height. Its sturdy culms, covered with pruinose bloom when young, are erect and slender (1 cm in diameter) and have a green colour turning yellow, then to orange with time. The abundant evergreen foliage of umbrella bamboo is distributed along almost entire length of the culms. Compound foliage of large, broad leaves, more imposing than those of other bamboo varieties. Lanceolate and tapering to the tip, its leaves have a very soft green colour.

Fargesia murielae Panda – BIOS – © Lamontagne Biosphoto

To grow Fargesia murielae ‘Panda’ in a pot

Evergreen and of rapid growth, Fargesia murielae ‘Panda’ is a bamboo very hardy to -15°C. Plant in spring or autumn in partial shade (tolerates non-scorching sun), in a pot filled with a drained, cool, rather heavy and non-calcareous soil. Umbrella bamboo dislikes drought and must therefore be watered regularly, especially when foliage is very abundant. From March to mid-April, give it two handfuls of lawn fertiliser. Although not essential, pruning can be carried out when the culms have reached full development.

Fargesia papyrifera 'Blue Dragon': a spectacular steel-blue bamboo

Cespitose, non-running bamboo of medium size, the blue-steel colouring of its young culms makes Fargesia papyrifera ‘Blue Dragon’ truly spectacular. With an erect habit, its juvenile culms are indeed covered with a blue bloom. Foliage is evergreen, composed of medium-sized leaves offering a handsome matt green. Growth of Fargesia papyrifera ‘Blue Dragon’ is relatively fast. It reaches within a few years an average height of between 4 and 6 m.

To grow Fargesia papyrifera ‘Blue Dragon’ in a pot

This bamboo is hardy down to -15°C. Remember to clear culms of your Fargesia papyrifera after heavy snowfall. Grown in a pot, it can be planted in any season except during frost, although best planting time remains late summer and autumn. Plant in a well-loosened, rich free-draining yet cool substrate, acidic or neutral, even slightly calcareous. Maintain at all times regular, thorough watering. Undemanding, potted Fargesia papyrifera ‘Blue Dragon’ benefits from a nitrogen feed twice a year (in spring and autumn).

Fargesia rufa : a very adaptable bamboo

Fargesia rufa is a non-running and non-invasive bamboo that grows very well in a pot for its screening qualities thanks to its dense growth. With a vigorous habit but very graceful, the culms of Fargesia rufa benefit from moderate development, since they can reach up to 3 m in height. Its dense foliage and evergreen consists of long green leaves with a fairly fine texture.

Fargesia rufa – Flickr – ©Ron Frazier

To grow Fargesia rufa in a pot

Very hardy (withstands down to -30°C) Fargesia rufa is a very accommodating bamboo that can be grown in a pot without difficulty in both northern and southern regions of France. Plant it in spring or autumn in a fresh, fertile substrate enriched with manure, free of lime, and place the pot in a sunny position (avoiding scorching sun) or in part shade. This bamboo can use up to 5 litres of water per day. Therefore carry out generous and regular waterings in summer leaving a saucer under the pot. Clean the clump in winter to remove dried culms and apply an organic fertiliser at the start of the growing season.

Sasa veitchii: dwarf and hardy bamboo

Although (slightly) running, Sasa veitchii can be grown in a pot for its very decorative bushy and dense habit. The culms slightly purplish and densely pilous, are both fine and thin, and measure 1.20 m in height on average for 4 to 8 mm in diameter. This dwarf bamboo is also equipped with a magnificent and abundant compound foliage of large evergreen leaves whose margins become marginate cream-white when cold sets in.

Sasa Veitchii – Flickr – ©Leonora (Ellie) Enking

To grow Sasa veitchii in a pot

Sasa veitchii is a bamboo of fairly rapid growth, robust and hardy to below -15°C. Not demanding regarding exposure, it is grown in a pot in well-draining topsoil. Feed it with fertiliser twice a year and water regularly (it tolerates neither drought nor lime). Remember to cut the oldest culms when new ones appear. Sasa veitchii propagates by rootstock cutting or by clump division.

To learn more

• Find the full range of varieties of bamboo to grow in pots in the Promesse de fleurs online shop.
• Growing bamboo in pots is subject to certain constraints. Follow our detailed advice to grow your bamboo in pots on a balcony or terrace.
• Find our advice on how to water a potted bamboo.
• Also discover how to divide and propagate your bamboo.
• Planting, pruning and maintaining bamboo, all our advice is at your disposal.