Umbrella Bamboo

A beautiful and well-behaved bamboo from China, Fargesia murielae was introduced by Ernest ‘Chinese’ Wilson, who named it for his daughter. It’s a medium-sized, dense, clump-forming, evergreen bamboo with a graceful, arching, almost weeping habit, from which it gets its common name. The new culms (canes) emerge pale blue from tan sheaths, but turn yellowish-green. The leaves are spear-shaped, and an attractive, soft green. Umbrella bamboo’s dense growth makes it particularly suitable for screens, but it also makes a beautiful specimen for a small garden. Umbrella bamboo holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Tolerates wind, but best in a sheltered position
Soil: Any reliably moist, fertile soil
Position: Best in partial or dappled shade; tolerates full sun
Season of interest: All year
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: up to 13’ (4m) Spread: 6’ (2m)

Photos by Maja Dumat, IKAI, and Sten, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 and 2.0.