Back copy:

http://www.nurserymanagementonline.com/nm0911-fargesia-woody-grass-evergreen.aspx

It is amazing to me still that few people know the genus Fargesia. There are few plants that can rival the merits of this woody grass: fast-growing, cold-tolerant, evergreen, shade-tolerant, deer-resistant. A perfect under-story screening, the leafy stems sway in the slightest breeze and bend but don’t break under snow cover. I need to first tell you that I am just way-tired of all the bamboo horror stories of bamboos invading suburban yards. The general misconception of such bad behavior needs to be re-directed to the negligent homeowners.  These so-called “invasive” bamboos are LEPTOMORPH: having monopodial running rhizomes like many kinds of turf grass. These bamboos can spread vigorously and definitely need to be managed. All species of Phyllostachys, Sasa, Shibataea, Pseudosasa and Pleioblastus are RUNNING bamboos. (Unfortunately these are the bamboos most of the general public know and are afraid of!)

The Fargesia are bamboos which are PACHYMORPH: having sympodial clumping roots like the ornamental grass, Panicum.  These bamboos enlarge slowly, forming a dense clump. The only genus of cold-hardy bamboos is Fargesia. [ Nomenclature note: taxonomists are struggling with a sub-section of Fargesia, so you may see some listed as the genus Borinda.  However, Borinda are much less cold-hardy than Fargesia. ]

So, Fargesia are perennial woody evergreen grasses. They evolved primarily as under-story plants in the mountain forests of China, living under pines on slopes and along streams. Neighbors include the well-known garden plants of rhododendron and hydrangea, and mahonia.

Until recently, there were only a couple of species of Fargesia available to the American garden, imported over a hundred years ago from wild-collected plants originating from China.  Within the species, F. nitida, multiple clones were in cultivation, showing varying forms and diversity.  However within the past 5 years, most of these clones have begun flowering, which in the case of this species, is monocarpic, resulting in death of the plant. Needless to say, this is not a desired phenomenon in the garden landscape. Resulting from these mass flowerings, new genotypes arise.  Very few have made it to the trade, as field-testing and selection takes many years.

For many decades, only one other Fargesia was available for home gardeners. Fargesia murieliae, which was the original collection of E.H. Wilson.  Only one genotype was in cultivation, and all specimens flowered and died in the 1990s.  Resulting from this flowering are many un-named seedlings, and they vary widely in their characteristics.

Other types of Fargesia that have been cultivated over the past 10 years in the U.S. include the following forms.  These are great additions to the palette of woody plants – not to be confused with ornamental grasses, since these are indeed evergreen, permanent additions which mix well with traditional plants like rhododendron and hemlock as understory screen plants or single specimens.

Fargesia denudata

This species is not well-known, yet it has the most beautiful arching habit and tolerates not only the frozen winters but heat and humidity.  It was first introduced by UK plant guru Roy Lancaster, coming from northern Sichuan and southern Gansu, China.  It can reach a height of 15 feet, but normally some like 10 ft. under average conditions.  USDA cold hardiness zone 5-9.

Fargesia robusta ‘Pingwu’ Green Screen™

This clone has been cultivated as Fargesia robusta ‘Pingwu’ in Europe for over a decade.  It is very upright, with persistent culm sheaths that add spring interest and texture. A clumping bamboo perfect for use as a hedge or screening plant, it has the great benefit of its non-invasive root system and robust size.  This exciting new bamboo holds up well in the heat and humidity of the Southeastern U. S., unlike other Fargesia types. The maximum height is 18 ft. and USDA cold hardiness zone 6-9.

Fargesia rufa ‘Oprins Selection’ Green Panda™

This selection was cultivated as Fargesia ‘Rufa’ in Europe for several years. Oprins Plant NV received a new plant introduction award at Boskoop in Holland for this form in 2003.  Subsequently, it was introduced into the U.S. in 2003 as Green Panda™.  This clumping, non-invasive bamboo is extremely cold hardy and heat tolerant, and has enormous potential in landscapes across North America and Canada.  It grows into a large clump (6-8 ft wide) with arching stems.  The maximum height is 10 ft. maximum and culm diameter is 0.5 inches. USDA hardiness zone 5-9. Originally from Gansu, China, it is a favorite food of the giant panda. Remarkably, this form grows well in shade as well as full sun.  It can grow in a wide variety of environments, from Atlanta to Boston to Chicago to Portland, Oregon.

Fargesia scabrida ‘Oprins Selection’ Asian Wonder™

A new introduction originating also from China, this clumping bamboo has an interesting overall character of  very narrow leaves and a graceful appearance. Stems show great color, with orange culm sheaths and steely-blue new culms (stems). Culms mature to olive green.  Maximum height is approximately 16 ft. USDA zone 5-8. This bamboo prefers sun to partial shade.

Propagation of temperate bamboos can be accomplished by traditional vegetative division, by seed (when available), or via micro propagation or “in vitro” tissue culture. Traditional vegetation is the most simple and the most widely used method, however it is both labor sensitive and time-sensitive, as the plants are quite vulnerable to stress during their active shooting periods. Seed propagation is rare due to the irregular and/or infrequent flowering cycles of most bamboos.

In vitro micro-propagation of bamboo is by far the best method for mass-production, although the technique is very difficult, with very specific protocols for each species and form.  Micro-propagation can be done from seeds or from meristematic tissue, and from type species or selected clones. Micro-propagation (tissue culture) is simply taking a small piece of a plant and multiplying more plants from that small piece.

It takes about 9 months from initiation of the meristematic tissue to a rooted plug, and approximately and additional 3-6 months from a rooted plug into a gallon-size pot for a saleable plant capable of withstanding installation into the landscape. Best time to plant in the landscape is spring.

The genus Fargesia contains wonderful types and forms of non-invasive bamboo that can enhance landscapes across many temperate zones, adding unique texture and year-round appeal as a vigorous evergreen with versatility and function. Let’s look outside the box at the potential of these well-behaved bamboos in our landscapes, and consider Fargesia as a different kind of evergreen for hedges, for screens, or simply as an elegant specimen.

Susanne Lucas, Horticulturist

Pioneer Plants, LLC. www.BambooSelect.us

9 Bloody Pond Road, Plymouth, MA 02360 USA  susannelucas@gmail.com

Non-Invasive!

Pachymorph root system – see how compact?

Fargesia denudata

Please click on the article link for more images…………….

(ABS magazine)

by Susanne Lucas  /   susannelucas@gmail.com

It is amazing what a little time can bring.  I just took a stroll around to take a look at my bamboos, as Betty had asked me to give a report on the past winter.  Today, there are gorgeous new shoots of Bashania fargesii, Fargesia robusta, and all kinds of Sasa.  But it was not so long ago it was winter, and we had lots of snow, and strolling was not possible.  Snow-shoeing, or trudging, or simply glimpsing from inside the house was my only recourse to visit with my bamboos.

On December 26 we got a great Nor’easter storm which resulted in easily a foot of snow. And we didn’t see the ground again for probably something like 8 weeks, at least. Subsequent snows accumulated and temperatures stayed cold (never going above freezing for at least a month), so the bamboos had lots of insulation.  Many of them were also lying on ground, and many of them were broken, as large drifts of snow hung up on the pine branches above and then those branches came crashing down, busting most anything woody below.  This happens often with the Phyllostachys vivax forms; but other species with thicker walls seem to somehow “bounce” back once the snow melts.

There is something kind of fun with the Fargesia when we get so much snow.  They collapse in a heap, but rarely break, and then, when no one is watching, they rise gently back up.

Our lowest temperature for the winter was about 4 degrees F, which is nothing unusual here.  And as I mentioned, we went many weeks without a day above freezing, so I think it was a rather normal winter here in the milder side of zone 6, coastal southeastern Massachusetts.  What was not so typical was the wonderful snow mulch that provided a respite much like down blanket to the bamboos, which helped keep moisture in and roots undamaged.

During the months of January – April, we can burn brush here, so that is what I relish doing each winter with all the broken bamboo bits that cannot be salvaged as poles, and with the groundcover bamboos that I clear-cut each April before shoots appear.  I love burning.  Very primal, very satisfying and very helpful in keeping my huge compost pile from filling with silica-laden bamboo leaves that take a century to break down.

Take a look at the pictures and you will see how it all looked in January here.  Maybe Betty will ask me how my bamboos fared over the summer and I can send nice green lush images for you to compare.  Rest-assured, the bamboos all did survived very well.  I probably have something like 60-70 different forms in the ground here on just about one acre…..and nothing died, nothing suffered much burn – only bends and breaks.   One plant I am so pleased with after about 5 years in the ground here:  Fargesia scabrida.

Yes, it is lovely with its mature dark olive green stems, coming along after gun-metal blue bloom is revealed behind orange-colored culm sheaths. Its leaves are long and held almost horizontally, and are thick and tolerant of the winter cold.  It is a clumper, but makes a very wide clump, with new shoots coming out quite far from the center of the clump and securing some real-estate in which to mature.  My largest clump is about 8 ft tall now and easily 4 feet wide.  We live in a white pine grove, so the overhead evergreen canopy gives a great amount of protection from winter sun, and wind is rarely a problem;

I think this is why scabrida is so happy in my garden (along with our sandy-loam well-draining soils).

I’d say my other pleasure of bamboo winter success here is with Phyllostachys parvifolia.

It has reached a height of 35 ft and 2.5 inches in diameter = easily my largest bamboo, and very resistant to winter cold, staying completely beautifully evergreen and holding up against snow loads.

Thank the bamboo gods for 4 seasons in New England; with each one we find a reason to celebrate the next!

• Fargesia scabrida (from Scott),
• Fargesia rufa (from Susanne),
• Sasa kurilensis (from Susanne)
• Pleioblastus distichus (from Susanne)

From there we toured other bamboo plantings at the zoo, drove over to the Arnold Arboretum Walter Street gate to see the various bamboo there. Quite surprising is the success of some:  Phyllostachys bambusoides, P. meyeri, P. atrovaginata, and others. Sadly they are neglected and could be so much nicer with alittle TLC.  Susanne Lucas will try to arrange a work party there, but the union issue is a strong one.

We meandered around the Emerald Necklace way and arrived Chinatown with very little traffic problems. Our timing was good. We had parking passes from the Rose Kennedy Greenway management, so walked easily to the site of the bamboos, and enjoyed the nice weather.  We made it inside the Chinese restaurant just before a brief downpour, and enjoyed dinner while we discussed NEC business and meeting ideas.
Meeting suggestions that came up:   a meeting in western Massachusetts at Tripple Brook Farm this fall/ a meeting in NYC hosted by new member Ariel Dubov, next spring / a workparty at the Baltimore Zoo.

We have an open invitation anytime at the Franklin Park Zoo.  The staff was very appreciative, helpful and kind and hope we come back regularly.