Fargesia, Umbrella Bamboo 'Simba'

This is a wonderful plant, both beautiful and well-behaved. Unlike most bamboos, which have earned a bad reputation for running aggressiv...Read Moreely, Fargesia species form clumps which expand only very slowly. No root barriers are required.

This species is hardy to Z5, and performs best in light shade, or at least with protection from afternoon sun. Does not like hot summer climates. Performs best in rich, well-drained soil with even moisture.

This is a dwarf cultivar, and grows only 6-8' tall.

The common name isn't commonly used, but it comes from the graceful weeping/umbrella shape a clump takes. F. murielae and F. nitida look very similar.

Bamboos are monocarpic---they die shortly after flowering. With bamboos, this happens only every hundred years or so, and somehow all members of a species all over the world tend to go to flower within a few years of each other. This happened in the 1990's with this species. New cultivars have been selected from plants grown from seed produced in the 1990's.

The Royal Horticultural Society gave this cultivar its Award of Garden Merit in 1992. Does this means that this is one of the older generation, and might flower soon?

Fantastic small bamboo. It was pricey, but proved to be reliable in Sofia, Bulgaria. Spreads very slowly, is amazingly drought tolerant, ...Read Moreand is as easily propagated as boxwood. Just dig out in spring fully grown canes from the outermost part of the clump, plant them wherever you like, provide regular watering until they establish, and just be patient.
Bamboos are more drought tolerant than I would have ever thought, and are so easy to propagate. I love these plants.