Which Bamboo
chicken chaser
Posts: 147
in Plants
I'm looking for 3 or 4 plants to put into my box planter at the side of the deck. It'll grow on a south facing fence line which gets sun from lunchtime on.
I'm looking for them to grow about 2metres, as that would be high enough as a screen and low enough not to anger the next door neighbour in cutting out their light.
I'd looked at Fargesia Rufa but a local nurseryman said that they don't really grow that tall and were slow to reach that height. He recommends Phyllostachys Aurea instead. I want something with bushy growth rather than canes with a few leaves on. I'm in NE England
Can anyone add their experiences?
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You could try black bamboo, that definitely does 2 metres.
..Rufa will grow to 2 metres and more, but will take around 5 years to get to 6 foot or so... I've grown it like that... it is on the slow side during the early years... and perhaps not for the impatient...but I liked watching it grow and not be overwhelmed by it... it's very bushy....but the canes are thin....not everyone likes that... it tolerates full sun and gales... it's grown as a high hedge around 7-8 foot tall at Alnwick Gardens in Northumberland...
...the other one is much taller, and has the ability to run.... but in your container it should be alright for some time, but it will run, and in the open ground a root barrier is advised...so possibly it might cause you problems within a few years... I've not grown it...so cannot vouch for that... only what I've read... this site below will tell you more about it...
...Fargesia robusta is taller and grows quicker than Rufa, if you want to look at that one... at £20 per plant, you can get one already as tall as this young man here... it's also cheaper than Rufa... and both these are easier to live with ultimately....
http://www.bigplantnursery.co.uk/Fargesia_robusta.html
I actually don't need a great deal of height to get me to the fence line, about 4 feet would see the fence screened, so I might look at the smaller varieties as Robusta looks like it likes to stretch its legs. Maybe Murielae? I'd rather stick with clump forming than have issues with it sprouting elsewhere
Actually I need something that's is upright and bushy not arching over.
...you can trim and shape them if they get too arching.... just cut out the canes that you don't want at the base, and cut back the tops that are arching over, if they're not to your liking.... they easily take this kind of treatment...
...I've grown these mureliae's... Jumbo or Super Jumbo is the tallest, but again these are not too quick to grow.... about the same as Rufa....
..ignore anything about them not taking full sun....they do.... also extremely hardy in containers, at least in our climate, and will take full exposure, but yours will have fence protection so that will make a difference....otherwise, they could partially defoliate in severe winter weather, I mean -10C for days... and look quite frozen, but recover in Spring..
..don't get Simba...I've had it for years and it's barely 3 foot...
.happy choosing...
Salino, I think you've made my mind up on Robusta, just to decide now whether to fill the full pot with a wall of them,or use them more selectively and add some other plants.
...a wise move I think...more selectively would be my choice....
...perhaps mix with a Pittosporum Tobira, which is fairly hardy, for a sub tropical look if you want...evergreen, large leaves and scented flowers...hardy for me here in the east with shelter....there's now a dwarf version too...
...something like that.... be good to see what you've made of this in a year or so...
Just looked it up as hadn't come across that before.... It looks like it could be ideal and has appeared on several photos of other gardens which I've been inspired by.
I'd like the decking plants to retain their colour and interest throughout the year so its going on the list.
Salino, I think you've made my mind up on Robusta, just to decide now whether to fill the full pot with a wall of them,or use them more selectively and add some other plants.