Fargesia yulongshanensis

Cultivation Details

Fargesia species are native from the warm temperate zone to the tropics in eastern Asia, usually growing at moderate elevations. Many of them are fairly frost-tolerant and can be suitable for growing outdoors in the milder areas of the temperate zone. Bamboos generally grow best in a sunny or moderately sunny position in a well-drained, fertile, open loam of reasonable quality with plenty of moisture in the growing season^[1]. They require a position sheltered from cold or strong winds^[2]. Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually -usually in the spring and early summer, and these stems grow to their maximum height in their first two to three months. Any subsequent growth in the stem is limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. Temperate bamboo species usually grow for many years without flowering. When they do finally flower it is not unusual for all the plants of that species in the region to also flower. They do so profusely over a period of 1 - 3 years and will often then die, probably from exhaustion. Some species, if given plenty of organic matter at this time will gradually recover, although they will look rather poorly for a year or three. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die^[3]. Bamboo species are usually notably resistant to honey fungus^[4].