Fargesia Scabrida experiences?

[watchnerd]

Does anyone have any first hand experience with growing Fargesia Scabrida?

I'm thinking of getting some, have read tons about it, and would be interested in hearing from anyone who has grown it.

Just FYI, I'm in USDA 10a / Sunset zone 16.

[fredgpops]

I've got a 3 gal thats been potted for for a couple of years. Appears to be a very slow grower, but sometimes plants are slow to adapt. Nice looking plant. Rgds

[Exotopia]

My experience with a non TC-Scabrida (usda zone :
Very early hairy shoots. (shortly after Fargesia Robusta Campbell) Relatively thick culms. As it is a Fargesia, it is not invasive but the shoots grow quite far apart so that the plant has a loose open growth (up to 15cm), but still it is quite upright. In the sun the culms turn light purple. Long narrow leaves. Height is about 3,5 meters after 5 years on a claysoil. The root-system is poor but it is one of the biggest growing Fargesia once established.

Greetz

Jan
www.exotopia.be

[watchnerd]

My experience with a non TC-Scabrida (usda zone :

Pardon my ignorance, but what does non-TC mean?

And I assume you're growing it somewhere in Belgium? What sort of sunlight does it get?

[moriphen]

Avoid buying the tissue cultured varieties, my experience with them has been very poor to the point of questioning if it was F. sp. Scabrida. Plant in a location that gets morning sun and afternoon shade for the best overall appearance. Your overall location is ideal for growing mountain bamboo's and I doubt you will have any winter hardiness issues. Myself I started with a 2 gallon that had a weeping overall from. Five thin shoots the 1st year and now nine shoots *so far* into the 2nd year, shoots are much more openly spaced then F. rufa.

M

[watchnerd]

Ah, TC = tissue cultured, thanks.

How would one know if a specimen is from TC or not?

[Exotopia]

I don't have a clue in which sunset zone Belgium is located. From May to August we have almost 200 hours of sun per month and a UV-index from 3 to 8 during summer.

Unfortunately you don't really recognize a TC-plant. It's been said that it does not grow as vigorously as a non TC plant.

Jan
www.exotopia.be

[watchnerd]

I don't have a clue in which sunset zone Belgium is located.

Hi Jan. Just so you know, when people refer to a 'Sunset zone', they're referring to a climate zone specified by Sunset magazine (http://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/), a home living magazine that covers the Western United States. It is more detailed than the USDA hardiness zone maps. It doesn't apply to the Eastern USA, let alone Europe.

[Lazlo Woodbine]

Does anyone have any first hand experience with growing Fargesia Scabrida?

I'm thinking of getting some, have read tons about it, and would be interested in hearing from anyone who has grown it.

Just FYI, I'm in USDA 10a / Sunset zone 16.

My favourite Fargesia by a country mile ....

but that's over here in maritime Northumberland! ....

Sailed through prolonged arctic conditions through November-December and has been shooting prolifically since early February. Doubled in height and girth in 2 years.

Laz

[watchnerd]

Laz, what sort of lighting conditions are you growing in?

I'm glad to see you have it against a fence, as I'm considering the same. In what cardinal direction is the plant facing?

[Lazlo Woodbine]

Laz, what sort of lighting conditions are you growing in?

I'm glad to see you have it against a fence, as I'm considering the same. In what cardinal direction is the plant facing?

Hi wn ... shes facing west and seems to be doing better than divisions in a more shady position - but to be honest she does pretty well anywhere.

Not sure what you'd say about the lighting conditions. The north east of england is pretty much a maritime climate - we're about 10 miles from the coast here. Depending on where the jet streams sitting ... we are usually blessed with loads of cloud, rain and cold northerlies! Not the greatest bamboo growing conditions. However because we don't get baking hot summers as a rule - the Fargesias do well.

Laz