Fargesia nitida

Fargesia nitida or otherwise known as Blue Fountain Bamboo is an outstanding ornamental non-invasive bamboo with outward arching slender branches and dark purplish canes that are covered with a bluish-white powder. This bamboo in it's native high mountain habitat grows at elevations over 8,000 feet and is extremely hardy to -20F degrees. The rich green leaves are delicate, and very attractive. Fargesia nitida is a thin bamboo with a very vertical visual pattern. The foliage seems to float around the whip-like culms. A dainty and graceful bamboo that is perfect for the shady area of the garden and a wonderful companion plant to rhododendrons, azalias, hostas and ferns. The overall bamboo is vase shaped, gently arching over at the top from the mass of foliage. It makes an excellent thick hedge or screen. Fargesia nitida prefers rich well drained soil and partial to full shade to perform its best. Like most Fargesias, some protection from the hot afternoon sun is advisable but not required.

Great Wall ™ has proven to be a superior new generation Fargesia nitida clone in Europe. The old generation plants grown from seed since 1889 and the associated nitida cultivars have started the fatal flowering cycle in Europe and across the USA. Recently my own old generation nitida here in the garden has begun to flower and will soon perish. These new generation Fargesia nitida plants will not flower for at least another 100 years. Great Wall ™ is the tallest rated nitida topping out at 15 feet in height under ideal conditions. Since this is a new bamboo to the Northwest only time will tell if the maximum height will be acheived here in Portland. Most likely you can expect at least 10 to 12 feet. This nitida clone is still extremely rare in U.S. cultivation.