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Fargesia robusta /ɹəʊˈbʌstə/

Common name: Green screen bamboo · Clumping bamboo · Robusta bamboo

Fargesia robusta is a clumping, non-invasive bamboo native to Sichuan province in China. It forms a tight, upright fountain of dark green culms up to about 5.5 m tall, ornamented with conspicuous pale, papery culm sheaths that contrast beautifully with the canes. One of the most cold-hardy bamboos in cultivation, it tolerates both sun and shade and is widely grown as a fast-establishing evergreen hedge or privacy screen, earning it the trade name green screen bamboo.

Fun facts

  • The genus Fargesia is named after Paul Guillaume Farges, a 19th-century French missionary and naturalist who collected plants in central China.
  • The cultivar Pingwu is sold under the trademarked name Green Screen bamboo for its dense, hedge-like growth.
  • As a pachymorph (sympodial) bamboo, its rhizomes expand only about 10 cm per year, so it never runs through the garden.
  • Like many Fargesia species, its wild populations in Sichuan form part of the giant panda's natural habitat and food supply.

Care summary

Sun Full sun to partial shade; appreciates afternoon shade in hot climates
Water Keep evenly moist, especially in the first season; dislikes drought but needs drainage
Soil Rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained loam; tolerates most garden soils
Hardiness Zones 6–9
Mature height 3–5.5 m (10–18 ft)
Pet safe Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty Easy
Propagation By rhizome clump division in early spring, before new shoots emerge

Make your own Green screen bamboo · Clumping bamboo · Robusta bamboo profile

Common problems

    • Plant in morning sun or light shade
    • Water deeply during hot dry spells
    • Mulch roots to keep them cool
    • Water deeply during dry spells
    • Improve drainage in heavy soil
    • Mulch to hold even moisture
    • Trim off fully yellowed leaves
    • Cut back dead foliage in spring
    • Wait for new shoots from the base
    • Mulch crowns before winter arrives
    • Feed lightly once new growth starts