|
|
Fargesia robusta 'Campbell'
(and cultivar 'Wolong')  Clumping non-invasive Fargesia robusta 'Campbell' was first collected in the mid-1980's by
Dr. Julian Campbell in the Wolong Nature Reserve in Sichuan, China, and brought to The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew in England
thereafter. It is the largest and most upright yet discovered of the clumping, non-invasive Fargesia genus. In our garden this is one of the first of our clumping bamboo to shoot each year. In early March dozens of new culms start poking their tips through the soil. For us this marks the beginning
of spring in the Northwest. Fargesia robusta has brilliant white sheaths on new culms that create a striking checker board
color combination of white and green all through the spring and summer seasons. Plant this bamboo where you can appreciate
its beautiful elegant structure. Fargesia robusta 'Campbell' handles full sun exposure in Portland with no sign of
distress, and is very drought tolerant in our garden. Always fresh looking through the harshest winter weather, this bamboo
is extremely wind tolerant as well. Cold hardy to at least 0°F degrees and possibly lower, Fargesia robusta 'Campbell' has proven to be an excellent very large non-invasive garden bamboo. A named cultivar of Fargesia robusta called 'Wolong' is also from the Wolong Nature Preserve in China and
has much larger leaves. It is not as erect and tends to weep much more so than the other forms. It also has beautiful red
colored sheaths and dark purple branches as an identifying trait. Unlike the other Fargesia robusta variants this cultivar
does not like hot afternoon sun and should be planted in a partial shade location if at all possible. Both of these variations of Fargesia robusta make an excellent easy care first time bamboo and is extremely popular in the landscaping trade for its many outstanding garden attributes. In its native habitat it has a confirmed height of 20 feet tall. Here in Portland you can expect at least 12 to 15 feet in height with adequate irrigation and good garden soil. A full size mature clump measures up to 8 feet in width at the base and almost as wide as it is tall from the cascading older culms.  |
|