Fountain Bamboo

An elegant and well-behaved bamboo (it’s not invasive) Fargesia nitida is a medium-sized, evergreen bamboo which forms a compact clump of gracefully arching culms (stems). These are green, flushed with purple, and do not bear leaves until their second year. The slender leaves are 3 ½”/9cm long, deep green and lustrous, giving this bamboo its species name, nitida, which means ‘shining’. This bamboo will tolerate full sun, but the leaves tend to curl while the sun is on them, detracting from their beauty – it’s best in dappled shade. Fountain bamboo makes a lovely specimen, or plant several as a screen.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any moist soil; will tolerate quite poorly-drained soil, but not waterlogging
Position: Best in partial or dappled shade
Season of interest: All year
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 13’ (4m) Spread: 5’ (1.5m)