Fargesia Jiuzhaigou "1" (red bamboo)

clematisdorset · 18 March

Hello,

I have seen this bamboo and like the look of it. I was wondering what slow-growing might mean here though.

I hope to buy a 7 to 8 litre potted specimen which I think is about 4 foot tall at present.

Could I expect it to get to over 5 foot by this autumn, if I plant it by early April?

I have amended but sandy soil.

Thank you!

Plantminded · 18 March

Hi @clematisdorset, I have some of this. Like most bamboos, the existing canes won't get any bigger in height or circumference. New ones are usually sent up from early April onwards for about six weeks, depending on your soil and location. These new canes are the ones that get bigger and better each year. I wait until this new growth has finished and then prune out any old, discoloured and thin canes from previous years, allowing the best of the new canes access to more space, light, water and nutrients. It's a clumping bamboo and from my experience it takes a couple of years to settle in and then starts to produce bigger and better canes in larger numbers. Feeding with blood fish and bone in spring helps so use a few handfuls on the soil surface when planting, plus lots of water!

clematisdorset · 18 March

Hi, thanks so much for answering, @Plantminded - I was hoping you might see this!

It sounds as though it could get to 5 foot or over eventually - which would be good for screening a semi-bare trellis area.

I might try to create a raised bed for it, to get that extra height from the start.

I like the way the little leaves create interesting patterns. It will be my first bamboo purchase of the year. Just in time for growth, by the sound of it!

Can I ask, apart from Phyllostachys, what sort of bamboo grows fastest in your garden please? ....
I might need another bamboo as well for this area!

thevictorian · 18 March

I don't grow that particular species but do grow fargesia rufa and after several years the canes do get quite a bit higher than the previous years growth. Ours are just left to their own devices but the new growth is generally a foot or so higher, occasional stems a bit taller, so I think the odd cane on yours could get to about 5ft but won't have much substance till its been settled a few years where it shold grow strongly to that height.

clematisdorset · 18 March

Thank you very much @thevictorian, that makes sense. I don't mind bare canes so start with and can wait for them to leaf out over time.

I might plant a more substantial bamboo behind it. By early summer, the trellis will have filled out with climbers too, so it will probably be ok.

Plantminded · 18 March

Apart from the 3 Fargesia varieties that I grow @clematisdorset, I only grow Phyllostachys varieties. They are non-clumping but in my soil and location they haven't run in 10 years. I keep a close eye on them and prune them quite severely every year, reducing the number of canes by up to two thirds. All the borders they are in are quite shallow, above a sandstone bedrock and contained in part by sandstone blocks. Many people worry about these bamboos but if you manage them properly they can provide excellent screening and atmosphere to your garden. Personally, I'm not that impressed with the Fargesia varieties that I grow because the canes aren't very colourful and I'm impatient! Here's a couple of my well tamed Phyllostachys varieties:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/d0/3ao7sjvri86h.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/id/lq9ijm7z3cjk.jpeg

clematisdorset · 18 March

Fantastic to see your beautiful Phyllostachys there, @Plantminded. Very inspiring, thank you. I have a few and I let them grow tall - they are possibly a bit too tall, at over 12 feet, I would guess. I will have a look at cultivars that don't grow so tall.

I can see where I am heading - Phyllostachys, Fargesia and then probably one of the small grasses...
🤫

ViewAhead · 19 March

Beautiful examples, @Plantminded! 👍

Fargesia Jiuzhaigou "1" (red bamboo)

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