Scabrida Bamboo Fargesia scabrida

Scabrida Bamboo is a clumping bamboo with an upright habit that is native to the mountainous regions of China.  It grows vigorously to a mature height of 12 to 15 feet with upright culms and provides a food source for giant pandas in its native habitat. It is a colorful plant with bright orange culms set against emerald green leaves. The young culms gradually open at maturity in blue and lavender then aging to green. The leaves are dark green and slender, with a graceful, airy arrangement. The genus name honors Paul Guillaume Farges (1844-1912), a French missionary and naturalist who worked in Central China.

Scabrida Bamboo prefers fertile, moisture-retentive soil, but tolerates most soil types, including clay, as long as the site is moist and well-drained. The plant more sun-tolerant than most other Fargesia. Existing plants can be propagated by division of established clumps or cuttings of young rhizomes in spring.

Plant this as a specimen, or mass plant, along a border. The plant makes a great, evergreen, privacy screen near a pool. It is robust, compact, and dense, but is not considered overly weedy. The plant will form dense clumps but is not considered invasive, which is common with bamboo. Pruning is optional, except to remove unwanted stems in spring.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases. Slugs can attack young shoots.