Fountain Bamboo Fargesia nitida
Previously known as:
- Arundinaria nitida
- Sinarundinaria nitida
- Phonetic Spelling
- far-GHEE-zee-uh NI-ti-duh
- Description
-
Exceptionally cold-resistant bamboo grass but does not withstand hot summer temperatures and humidity well. Its upright arching stems can sometimes take on a weeping form which gives it the common name fountain bamboo. It tolerates a wide range of conditions and soils but prefers damp, high organic matter well-drained loam in the partial shade. It flowers very infrequently and can die after putting all of its energy towards reproduction. This is a non-invasive bamboo and can be used as a hedge, screen or wind-break.
Quick ID
- Clump-forming bamboo with cane-like growth
- Long, sheathed, linear leaves with ciliate ligules
- Purplish stems/culms
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Fountain'
Blue leaves - 'Ems River'
- 'Jiuzhaigou'
- 'Wakehurst'
- 'Blue Fountain'
- 'Blue Fountain', 'Ems River', 'Jiuzhaigou', 'Wakehurst'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Fountain'
Blue leaves - 'Ems River'
- 'Jiuzhaigou'
- 'Wakehurst'
- 'Blue Fountain'
- 'Blue Fountain', 'Ems River', 'Jiuzhaigou', 'Wakehurst'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Fargesia
- Species:
- nitida
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Using in making lightweight fences, baskets, and sieves
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Honey fungus
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Description:
- Wind pollinated, dioecious (has both male and female flowers on the same plant). Flowers only appear after long intervals (years). They put all of their energy into their flowers and sometimes plants die after flowering, but they will often recover after looking ragged for a few years.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green, narrow leaves 2-4" long by .5" wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Purplish-green canes
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heavy Shade
