6 fast-growing bamboos

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda 'Microphylla'

The Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda ‘Microphylla’ (synonym Qiongzhuea tumidinoda) is a small bamboo reaching 3-4 m in height, classified among the slightly running species. It is distinguished by rapid growth and can quickly colonise large areas, especially when planted in rich, deep, well-drained soil that remains moist. It exhibits an original habit, particularly flexible and almost weeping, giving it a unique appearance.

This bamboo, with its remarkable graphic quality, is characterised by its graphic canes coloured in pale olive-green, with a diameter of 2 to 3 cm, its curious prominent nodes arranged along the culms, and its delicate feathery light green foliage.

It can be planted in hedges, in clumps, or even in pots. If planting in a hedge, maintain a distance of 1 m to 1.5 m between plants; for clumps, allow a greater spacing of 1.8 to 2.2 metres. Avoid planting in scorching sun, in overly dry soils, and in full wind. The installation of a rhizome barrier is essential for this variety.

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda ‘Microphylla’

Fargesia 'Winter Joy'®

The Fargesia nitida (x) murielae ‘Winter Joy’® is a variety of non-running bamboo characterised by its very rapid growth. It can grow at least 40 to 50 cm per year, without ever becoming invasive.

In time, it will gracefully reach 3 m in height and about 1.5 m across. Another advantage of this Fargesia is that it maintains a very dense silhouette, without becoming sparse in the centre, looking stunning even in winter, with its colours changing in response to the cold. Its slender canes, measuring 1-2 cm in diameter, are mauve-blue when young, darkening over time to become brown. Thus, they provide a lovely contrast with the broad light green foliage.

This recent Dutch horticultural variety, featuring particularly dense foliage, is mainly used to create hedges and effective windbreaks or privacy screens. It can also be grown, why not, in a large pot or container on the terrace.

Easy to cultivate, it thrives in all exposures, in cool but well-drained soil, without requiring the installation of a rhizome barrier at planting.

Fargesia ‘Winter Joy’®

Phyllostachys humilis

It is one of the smallest Phyllostachys species! Beautiful medium-sized bamboo, the Phyllostachys humilis has a more moderate growth than its giant bamboo counterparts. It reaches a maximum height of 3 to 5 metres in just a few years. It is also distinguished by its less running nature while maintaining the rapid growth characteristic of the species.

Another feature is that its dark culms in the juvenile stage turn yellow-orange when exposed to sunlight.

It is therefore used as a backdrop or to form a dense green screen. In hedges, leave 1 to 1.5 m between each plant.

This bamboo is easy to prune. Hardy down to -24 °C, it grows quickly in full sun or partial shade, in any well-drained garden soil. It is a running bamboo that will require the precautionary installation of a rhizome barrier.

Phyllostachys humilis (© Wikimedia commons)

Sasa palmata ‘Nebulosa’

Don’t be fooled by its small size! This Sasa ‘Nebulosa’ hides a vigorous nature. It spreads through its running rootstocks, quick to sometimes colonise large areas. It forms a beautiful bush with a slightly loose habit, reaching about 2.5 m in height. It differs from other bamboos by its superb foliage made up of enormous glossy light green leaves arranged in palmate form, and by its very fine olive green canes that turn black with age.

Beneath its tropical appearance, this hardy cultivar conceals a accommodating nature, thriving in both sun and shade, in the ground or in pots. It allows for the rapid creation of a constantly green hedge, a bush at the back of a border, or even a large isolated clump. As it spreads quickly in soil that remains relatively cool throughout the year, it’s best to contain its expansion with a rhizome barrier.

Sasa palmata Nebulosa (© Bat)

Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’

The Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’ is part of the giant bamboos with rapid growth and running rootstock. With remarkable vigour, it impresses with its size of 10 to 15 metres in height at ripeness. It can grow several centimetres per day, forming an upright clump. This quality allows it to quickly create a bamboo forest or a substantial hedge.

It is also appreciated for its impressive canes, 8 to 10 cm wide and a very bright ochre yellow, subtly striped with green, and for its dark green, feathery foliage that elegantly trails.

It shows equal vigour in both the north and south of our country. This giant bamboo is suited to large gardens where it thrives in cool soil, in full sun, sheltered from strong winds. It disregards property boundary notions, so be sure to limit its invasive nature by installing a rhizome barrier.

Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’

Fargesia 'Viking'®

Here is another non-running bamboo that combines many qualities. ‘Viking’® is a recent Dutch horticultural variety selected for its great vigour. Its growth is very rapid for a cespitose bamboo, at least 40 to 50 cm per year. It reaches about 3-4 m in height at maturity, with a spread of around 2 m, forming a clump of bright green foliage with a slightly trailing, parasol-like habit. Like all Fargesia, it stays nicely in place without ever becoming invasive, and does not require containment by a rhizome barrier.

It quickly develops slender canes of 2 cm in diameter, with a violet-blue colour when young, turning dark purple, then brown-black at maturity. Very close together and densely foliated, they create an almost impenetrable screen of greenery. The clump remains dense without thinning in the centre, even in winter.

This variety is particularly suited for creating a privacy hedge or a windbreak in the ground as well as in pots.

Fargesia nitida x murieale ‘Viking’®

For further reading

• Discover my tips for choosing your bamboos based on the intended growing method.
• Also find all our running bamboo varieties available in the Promesse de Fleurs online shop.