
Photo copyright: Noah Bell, 2007
White culm sheaths create a checker board color pattern in
late spring through summer, beautiful!
photo copyright: Ned Jaquith, 2003
A Fargesia robusta at Ted Meredith's garden
photo copyright: Ned Jaquith 2005
At our nursery, we dug a large F. robusta
out of the ground and washed the soil away from the root mass.
Look at all those new shoots! In February, new F.
robusta canes emerging from the ground remind us that spring is
just around the corner.
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Fargesia
robusta
(Campbell form)
Prices:
1 gallon: not available
for 1 gallon size see
Green Screen™
2 gallon: $50
5 gallon: $85
10 gallon: $150 |
Maximum Height: 12 to 15 ft.
Diameter: 0.75 inch
Hardiness: -4° F
USDA Zone recommended 7 through 9,
not for climates with high heat and humidity (southeastern states).
Fargesia robusta is a good choice for a clumping bamboo that
can create a narrow screen, being taller, more upright, and more robust than
Fargesia nitida and Fargesia murielae. This species has dark
green foliage and light green culms, with new shoots that are hairy and
rusty red upon emergence from the ground in early spring. The culm sheaths
persist and soon fade to a light color, almost white, giving the culms a
very attractive checkerboard look in the spring through early summer. This
bamboo is more sun tolerant than most other Fargesia, but in a warmer
climate it would prefer protection from the hot afternoon sun. We have one
growing in full sun that has never shown any sign of leaf burn. It is more
compact than one would be with shade (about 10 feet tall), and a slightly
lighter shade of green.
Our Fargesia robusta is known as the 'Campbell' type, which
was the first introduction of this species into the Western world from
Sichuan, China. It has slightly smaller leaves and a tighter
clumping habit than the 'Pingwu' type, which is from a later
collection and is used by Bamboo Select in creating their
Green Screen™
variety.
F. robusta 'Wolong',
collected in 1996, has larger leaves than both the 'Pingwu' and 'Campbell'
types, and has a glossy sheen which highlights its fine qualities.
Another intriguing specimen from a later collection is
known in Europe as 'Red Sheaths'. It is reputed to have more brightly
colored culm sheaths that remain on the plant for a longer time and provide
contrast with the olive green canes. Unfortunately, we do not know of any
currently available in the United States.
F. sp. 'Scabrida' has similar
qualities to F. robusta, but is even more colorful.
With the vigor and height inherent to all types of
Fargesia robusta, 'Campbell', 'Wolong', Pingwu', and 'Red Sheaths', are
valuable plants for the landscape due to their versatility, and for
collectors due to their fine colors and form.
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Photo copyright: Dain Sansome: 2005
Woody admires
a Fargesia robusta at the Bamboo Garden.
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