Fargesia robusta

A handsome, adaptable, non-invasive bamboo, Fargesia robusta is a large, evergreen, clump-forming, quite fast-growing bamboo with a tall, upright habit. The long, lance-shaped leaves are mid-green on top and blue-green underneath, and the almost vertical blue-green culms (stems), which emerge early, grow paler as they age. Creamy-white to brownish flowers may appear in summer. Fargesia robusta can be grown as a stand-alone specimen or as a hedge or screen in larger gardens. This bamboo is tough, cold-tolerant, and, if given a good mulch in spring, drought-tolerant once fully established. Needs no pruning, and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any fertile, humus-rich, water-retentive but well-drained soil
Position: Partial shade
Season of interest: All year
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 13-16’ (4-5m) Spread: 5’ (1.5m) in five years

Photo by Filostachys and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.