FARGESIA. Fountain bamboo. A group of showy, clumping bamboos mostly native to China. They are typically of moderate size, beginning their new round of growth with spear-like, unbranched shoots in the fall. These form clusters of branchlets bearing clouds of attractive, bright green to bluish green leaves the following spring. They are easily grown in sun or shade near the coast but need some shading and sheltering from hot, dry winds inland. Most soils, moderate to regular watering. They are among the hardiest of the clumping bamboos.
dracocephala. If you happen to own a giant panda and are wondering what to feed it, this will do nicely, as it does in the wild. Beyond that, it is an attractive ornamental, growing 10-15’ high. It makes dense clumps of strong but slender stems, dusted with white wax when young. The leaves are 2-4" long, narrow and deep green in color. It is one of the hardiest of the genus, reportedly to below 0oF.
fungosa (Borinda fungosa). This is a recent arrival from northeastern Yunnan, China. The plants were raised from seeds generously provided by the late Dr. Xue Ji-ru of the Southwestern Forestry College to members of the 1993 Yunnan Bamboo Expedition group. It grows 10-15’ tall, the stems erect at first but bowed over, sometimes nearly to the ground, by masses of dark green 4-7" leaves. The cream to light pink bracts on the new shoots are an added ornamental feature. We have selected for propagation individuals with deep chocolate and maroon culms and are offering them under these color designations. I would guess it to be hardy to 15oF. or less.
murielae (Thamnocalamus spathaceus, Sinarundinaria murielae). Umbrella bamboo. China. A dense, slender stemmed bamboo growing 8’ or more tall. The branches carry broad sprays of light green 3-4" leaves, giving a decidedly lacy appearance. It is an excellent plant for large containers, though slow to get established. The original plants cultivated in California have been flowering and declining over the past several years. However, thanks to Erik Nagata, we are now raising a new generation of seedlings. Further selections will be made from these. Hardy to 10oF. or less.
nitida (Sinarundinaria nitida). China. This is certainly one of the most beautiful of the bamboos, and well suited in scale to the home garden. It makes close thickets of exceptionally slender purplish stems, 6-12’ tall and well exposed below. Narrow leaves 2" to 3½" long, colored dark green above and bright bluish green beneath, are presented in lacy, open sprays. Adaptable to containers as well as to protected spots in the open garden. Too much sun, heat or drought causes the leaves to curl. Hardy to 0-10oF.