Family Poaceae.
Originating from China.
- Lush, glossy evergreen leaves are densely borne in a neat and showy mass.
- Upright culms emerge with red/purple sheaths, maturing to glossy olive-green.
- An easy-to-grow clump-forming bamboo thriving in any soil, in sun or shade.
Umbrella Bamboo ‘Pingwu’ in Your Garden
Highly decorative, lush, and characterful, this healthy, neat bamboo is robust and reliable. Its slender, elegantly pointed leaves are broader than the species and are borne on slender culms (canes). White, papery sheaths persist on the new culms, making a striking two-tone pattern, alternating with their olive-green colour.
Hardy in all UK gardens, it reaches 4m high and 2m wide in 10 years, flourishing in any soil, in full sun or shade. A highly versatile variety, its refined look is not overtly exotic. It makes a beautiful addition to the traditional English woodland gardens of Norfolk. Additionally, it is an ideal contemporary bamboo for pots in Suffolk’s modern outdoor living spaces.
Its tightly packed, upright culms and dense foliage make an ideal privacy screen. They are tolerant of exposed windy conditions if moist at the root, making sheltered microclimates for plants and people. Few bamboos evoke an oriental style without looking tropical, and suit all styles of garden, particularly modern, contemporary planting schemes.
Growing Tips for Your Fargesia ‘Pingwu’
- Soil and Sun: Plant in any non-waterlogged soil. Once established, it tolerates dry shade if sheltered, even under trees; sun or part shade works.
- Planting: Set in spring or autumn; summer planting requires extra attention to watering. Plunge for 20 minutes to drench the root ball before planting. To supercharge your ‘Pingwu’, dig in manure to the area around the plant(s).
- Watering: Water newly set plants regularly while rooting out. Established plants tolerate dry spells.
- Controlling Rhizome (Root) Growth and Pruning: Fargesias have pachymorph rhizomes, meaning they do not run; they spread slowly, a few centimetres each season. ‘Pingwu’s shallow rhizomes grow no deeper than 15cm below ground, so although it eventually forms large clumps, it’s easily controlled. Trim to any desired height or shape in early spring.
The Umbrella Bamboo’s dense, upright habit makes it an ideal contemporary bamboo for pots. Its architectural impact, especially used at regular intervals, forms a striking yet soft-textured backbone for planting schemes. Additionally, it exudes a calming Zen character, rustling in the breeze whilst buffering intrusive noise pollution.
Planting Ideas for Fargesia robusta ‘Pingwu’
Before looking at various companion plants for the Umbrella Bamboo, one idea is simply to plant lots of it. Use it to line paths, frame views, enclose areas, and create sheltered, secret gardens and escapes. It is the perfect structural bamboo because of its compact, upright nature, neat and organised appearance, and serene character.
Its adaptability to different styles is priceless. It excels at providing an evergreen backdrop for Acers ‘Garnet’, ‘Phoenix’, and ‘Bi Ho’ in woodland or oriental gardens. Equally, it adds structure to large-leaved exotic plantings, contrasting with Fatsias japonica and variegata, Setaria palmifolia, and Petasites giganteus. Its upright lushness complements Miscanthus ‘Zebrinus’ and ‘Little Zebra’, creating a dense ‘machete-required’ jungle effect.
