Fargesia rufa - Non-running Bamboo

Fargesia rufa is an excellent non-spreading bamboo, both vigorous and non-invasive, dense in foliage, and easy to grow in many regions. Its thick evergreen vegetation and moderate height, make it an excellent hedging plant. It has a graceful habit and fairly fine-textured foliage that will be decorative when planted alone or in small groups. This bamboo also suits container planting. Installation of rhizome barriers is unnecessary.

Fargesia rufa is a clump-forming bamboo that belongs to the Poaceae family Woody stems develop from a non-spreading rhizomatous stump. In this type of bamboo, the very short internode rhizomes develop slowly at the periphery of the stump, which gradually expands. They also develop towards the centre of the clump, which remains very dense without thinning out. This bamboo, also known as Sinarundinaria rufa, is native to the humid forests of China and the Himalayas, and is one of the hardiest bamboos (up to -30° C (-22° F)). Its growth is quite slow, reaching a height of between 2.50 m (8.2 ft) and 3 m (9.8 ft) and a maximum width of 1.50 m (4.9 ft). This species is characterized by small, evergreen, slender, medium green leaves, measuring 6 cm to 8 cm (2.4 in to 3.1 in) long and 0.75 cm (0.3 in) wide. Its slender canes, with a section of 0.5 cm to 1 cm (0.2 in to 0.4 in), are slightly arched and have numerous branches starting from the base. The nodes and sheaths are more or less tinged with red or orange-pink, especially when grown in pots or in soil with a tendency towards alkaline.

Fargesia rufa is an excellent evergreen hedge plant that will provide a privacy screen and block the wind. It requires little maintenance and does not need repeated and tedious pruning operations. It can be grown in large containers as its growth is slower than other varieties. This non-spreading bamboo is suitable for gardens of all sizes, even small ones. It will also have a great effect when planted alone or integrated into a shrub border. To enhance and enliven its foliage in summer, it can be grown alongside a viticella-type clematis with red flowers (Madame Julia Correvon, Purpurea Plena Elegans, Avant Garde), whose small foliage will blend naturally with the bamboo's vegetation. Tall grasses, giant cannas, and large dahlias (Dahlia imperialis) will also be good companions for this robust bamboo.

Tip: Avoid excessively dry soils, as the vegetation becomes more sparse. In hot and dry regions, place it in partial shade and water occasionally in summer.