6 clumping bamboos

Fargesia denudata Lancaster 1: a non-running bamboo that is easy to grow and exceptionally beautiful

The Fargesia denudata ‘Lancaster 1’ is an exceptional non-running bamboo, resembling that of a miniature weeping willow. Its feathery leaf clusters, evergreen and bluish-green, conceal young red shoots, and culms that reach 3 m in height and turn from green to pear yellow in the sun. Highly screening, it is used as a solitary clump, in a small hedge, or even as a privacy screen on a balcony.

Fargesia denudata ‘Lancaster 1’

Culture and Care

A well vigorous bamboo, Fargesia denudata ‘Lancaster 1’ is also highly valued for its great ease of cultivation, in any region of the country. Perfectly cold-resistant, even at altitude (it grows in China up to 3,200 m above sea level), it also offers good tolerance to sea spray and dry soils.

Fargesia rufa: a small clump-forming bamboo that is very dense and very hardy.

Fargesia rufa, or Sinarundinaria rufa, is a vigorous non-running bamboo with a rhizomatous stump that can be easily grown in open ground in most regions. Its dense evergreen foliage provides interesting screening throughout the year. With a moderate height (up to 2.75 m tall), it is ideal for creating attractive evergreen hedges. Moreover, its graceful habit, culms tinged with red or orange-pink, and its leaves with a fine texture make it a very decorative bamboo.

Fargesia rufa

Culture and Maintenance

Thanks to its slow growth, Fargesia rufa can easily be grown in a large container or in a small garden. It is one of the hardiest bamboos, capable of withstanding negative temperatures of around -30°C. This cespitose bamboo requires little maintenance, with no pruning needed. However, it is sensitive to too dry soils and excessive heat. Therefore, it should be placed in partial shade in Mediterranean regions, and watered regularly in summer.

Fargesia robusta: a non-running bamboo with long evergreen leaves

Fargesia robusta is a non-running bamboo of medium size, featuring long trailing culms, light green to yellow, and can reach heights of 4 to 5 m. It is recognised by its long, slender, evergreen leaves that form a wavy and well screening clump. It is thus possible to train it as a privacy hedge, although it takes a bit longer to establish than running varieties.

Fargesia robusta (©Mike McCune – Flickr)

Culture and Maintenance

Resistant down to -20°C, Fargesia robusta particularly enjoys fresh, fertile soil enriched with manure, as well as sunny locations. Perfect for small Japanese-inspired gardens, this bamboo also accepts cultivation in pots. It can then be placed on a sunny or slightly shaded terrace.

Fargesia scabrida 'Asian Wonder': a recent and highly ornamental clumping bamboo

Fargesia scabrida ‘Asian wonder’ is a relatively new bamboo that is still not widely known, but it deserves to be better recognised for its outstanding ornamental qualities. With a relatively fast growth rate for a cespitose bamboo, Fargesia scabrida ‘Asian wonder’ can reach up to 5 m in height within a few years. With its soft, upright habit, green culms tinged with purple and adorned with mahogany sheaths, and remarkably fine, dense foliage, it is the star of Asian-inspired gardens and forms an impenetrable screen.

Fargesia scabrida ‘Asian wonder’

Culture and Maintenance

Hardy down to -20°C, it ideally prefers acidic to neutral, light, well-drained, and cool soils. Fargesia scabrida ‘Asian wonder’ can be planted in partial shade, or preferably in full sun. Perfect for small gardens, it can also be planted as a solitary specimen or in a group.

Fargesia nitida 'Volcano': a small non-running bamboo perfect for pot cultivation

The Fargesia nitida ‘Volcano’ is a small, recent bamboo, reaching 2 m at ripeness, non-running and with an upright and neat habit. Decorative, it features purple canes and fine foliage. A compact variety, it forms a narrow and dense clump from the base upwards. With its modest growth, this lovely bamboo fits into all small gardens and can be grown in pots on terraces and balconies.

Fargesia nitida ‘Volcano’

Culture and Care

Native to central China, Fargesia nitida ‘Volcano’ grows up to 3,400 m in altitude and is thus one of the hardiest bamboos. In the ground, in pots, or in containers, this small bamboo thrives in all exposures. It particularly enjoys fresh and well-drained soils, but especially non-calcareous ones.

Fargesia demissa 'Gerry': a remarkably decorative recent clumping bamboo

Fargesia demissa ‘Gerry’ is a new variety of cespitose bamboo from the Netherlands that proves to be remarkably ornamental. It produces thick, dark purple canes that are covered in a bluish-purple to green bloom. Growing up to a maximum height of 3.50 m, this columnar bamboo, slightly flaring at the top, is ideal as a solitary clump or in a pot.

Fargesia demissa ‘Gerry’

Cultivation and Care

One of the hardiest varieties, this bamboo is capable of enduring temperatures as low as -30°C without suffering. Fargesia demissa ‘Gerry’ has the unique characteristic of producing deciduous foliage in the coldest regions. However, the leaves only fall at temperatures below -20°C. It should be planted in partial shade and in fertile, cool soil, preferably non-calcareous.

For further reading

• Not sure how to choose a bamboo ? Virginie provides you with all the keys to selecting the bamboo varieties best suited to your situation!
• Then take a quick look at the Promesse de Fleurs shop and its many non-running bamboo varieties.