Hardy Garden Bamboo Species

Fargesia group 

Medium to tall bamboos with pachymorph rhizomes. Most species are clumping bamboos, with the exception of Yushania, which has elongated rhizome necks, resulting in spread culms. The species are an excellent choice as specimen or as hedges. The most hardy species are found in the genus Fargesia, while other species are less hardy in Western Europe.

The taxonomy and naming is very complicated and controversial. More than one name is often used to described the same bamboo. The names we use are at present accepted by most taxonomists and are also used in official lists and horticultural trade.

Fargesia

Fargesia species and cultivars make ideal garden bamboos in Western Europe. Their natural habitat is in mountaineous areas in China, where the climate is humid and cold, and they grow as understory, mostly in shade. This is why they can also be planted in shady conditions in our gardens. The species and forms are also useful as pot or terrace plants, and contrary to other species in pots, which have to be protected in winter, some of these bamboos do not require much protection.

Until recently the choice was restricted to F. murieliae and F. nitida, but following the introduction of many new types from homeland China (e.g. F. robusta, F. robusta 'Pingwu', F. dracocephala, F. denudata, and F. Rufa) many more will be available in the near future. During the mid 1990s, Fargesia murieliae flowered at large scale in Europe allowing new and interesting selections to be made. 

 Phyllostachys group

Bamboos of larger stature with leptomorph or creeping rhizomes. The species can be used as specimens or for covering larger areas, as hedges or visual screens. Several species have highly decorative culms. With the exception of Chimonobambusa, most of the species are very hardy.

Chimonobambusa (incl. Qiongzhuea)

The new shoots of this group generally appear in autumn. The species grow 2-5 m tall and the diameter of the culms is 1-2 cm. Very prominent is the occurrence of quadrangular culms in many of the species, in the lower part of the culm. Also woody root initials are often observed at the lower nodes. Chimonobambusa have a branch complement of 3 or more branches, the culm sheath is deciduous or can remain attached.

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis and C. marmorea are most well known. Both also have somatic mutants (both in culm and leaf) but these are rare. Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda (syn. Qionghzhuea tumidinoda) has very prominent nodes and is used in China for making decorative walking sticks. 

Qiongzhuea is regarded as a section of the genus Chimonobambusa, rather than as a separate genus. The plants are only mildly frost resistant and in severe winters the foliage and culms can be severely or completely damaged, but not the rhizomes.

Phyllostachys

This genus is undoubtedly the most important of all bamboo genera. This favourite genus has a large diversity in growth forms and stem colour variants. On most nodes 2 (sometimes 3) branches grow out from the nodal buds, and at this side the internode is flattened (sulcus). These two characters suffice to distinguish Phyllostachys plants unambigously. The culm leaves are deciduous.

More than 120 species and forms have been introduced in Europe, and most of these grow in private gardens or botanical collections. But among the 25 to 40 species which are found in horticultural trades, some jewels with variegated culms can be found. Phyllostachys nigra, the black bamboo, was the first bamboo introduced in Europe (around 1827). 

In recent years numerous new species and cultivars have been introduced from China, though not all of these are interesting for horticultural practice. Yellow and green culm color variants are found in several species of the genus as shown in the table.

They have leptomorph rhizomes, and are more or less spreading. Some species are vigorous spreaders and in planning or planting these bamboos, this should be taken into consideration. The propensity for spreading is also dependent on microclimate and soil (including nutritional status).

Semiarundinaria 

This genus is a hybrid with Phyllostachys as one of the parents, which can be seen in the large and erect stature. The other parent is a Pleioblastus species, as witnessed in branch complements, which has more than 3 (contrary to Phyllostachys) branches at each node. The branches are short and not arching. This gives the plants a special appearance since it is the only truly erect tall bamboo genus with height between 7 and 10 m. Trimming is not necessary.

In contrast to the large diversity in Phyllostachys, only some species and forms are interesting in horticulture. Especially S. fastuosa, the bamboo, with its brownish culms, Semiarundinaria viridis, with green culms, and Semiarundinaria kagamiana, S. yashadake, S. yashadake 'Kimmei', and S. yamadorii.

Shibataea

A group of bamboos of lower stature with leptomorph rhizomes. In natural environments these bamboos grow only 1-2 m tall but they can be trimmed at almost any height; in fact they should be trimmed after winter to promote development of new shoots. This makes them highly suited for low hedges. While most bamboo leaves are long compared to width, Shibataea leaves are prominently wide (2.5-3 cm) and short (8-10 cm). Branch complement is 3-6. Most popular is Shibataea kumasaca, but also forms with yellow or white variegated leaves are highly attractive. 

xPhyllosasa (syn. xHibanobambusa)