Bashania fargesii (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: N/A
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 8m
Eventual Spread: 3m
Hardiness: 5b – 9b
Family: Poaceae
Bashania fargesii is a vigorous running bamboo. Its dark green leaves are laneolate with entire margins, up to 20cm long and 3cm broad. Its grey/ green canes may achieve a diameter of up to 6cm. Its roots of this bamboo are deep, which make it stable and form runners which aids its vigorous spread.
Bashania fargesii, commonly known as the Chinese Mountain Bamboo or Wind Break Bamboo, is native to central China. In its native habitat it grows in mountain forests and bamboo forests. Bashania fargesii is synonymous with Arundinaria fargesii.
Bashania fargesii Leaf (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Bashania is derived from Ba Shan, Sichuan Province, China. Fargesii is named after Paul Guillaume Farges (1844–1912), a French cleric and amateur botanist who collected in China.
The landscape architect may find Bashania fargesii useful as an evergreen screening or wing break bamboo.
Ecologically, Bashania fargesii is of little value to UK wildlife.
Bashania fargesii Canes (06/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Bashania fargesii prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Bashania fargesii requires little maintenance. A root barrier could be install at the time of panting to prevent its over vigorous spread.
