Fargesia murielae Red Zebra - Non-running bamboo

Fargesia murielae 'Red Zebra' is a medium-sized variety of non-running bamboo with a very dense habit. Its dark green evergreen foliage is ornamental all year round. This bamboo is also extremely attractive with its decorative canes, ranging from dark red to deep purple, visually interrupted by the light sheaths of the leaves. This superb contrast, as well as its upright growth, allows for the creation of magnificent privacy hedges, without the risk of invasion. Very hardy and adaptable, it is easy to grow even in a small garden or a large container.

Fargesia murielae is a plant of the Poaceae family, formerly known as Gramineae. It produces woody stems that develop from a non-running rhizomatous crown, referred to as clump-forming. In this type of bamboo, the rhizomes with very short internodes develop slowly at the periphery of the clump, which gradually widens, but they also develop towards the centre, which remains very dense without thinning out from the centre. Another great advantage is that there is no risk of being invaded by rhizome shoots at a distance from the main clump.
This cultivar 'Red Zebra' is a recent horticultural variety from the Well Born Bamboo Africa range, obtained by sowing and selecting the best specimens. It originates from China, in a valley in the Hubei province following a flowering of mother bamboo plants between 1998 and 2000. The next flowering (which will signify the death of the plant) is not expected for at least 70 years... Red Zebra forms a very dense clump at the base, slightly widening towards the top, while maintaining a very upright appearance. It reaches a height of 3.5m with a width of about 2m after 6 to 8 years of planting in the ground. The canes (stems) have a superb dark colour, ranging from purple to dark red, almost black. Thin and slender, they measure approximately 2cm in diameter and are coloured from the moment they emerge from the ground. Moreover, they retain their colour regardless of the exposure, even in shade. This variety is also very accommodating as it tolerates full sun, as well as partial shade or shade. The leaf sheaths are whitish to pinkish, punctuating the internodes of the canes, thus creating a contrasting zebra-like pattern that gave this variety its name. The long and pointed, medium-sized leaves are numerous and fairly dark green.
Tolerating pruning well, Red Zebra can easily be grown as a hedge where only a few cuts with shears may be necessary to maintain its width. It can also be grown in a large container, with annual pruning to limit its growth. In case of stress (cold or drought), the leaves will slightly fold along their length, without losing their decorative character. This bamboo will also grow in most soils, from moderately dry to moist, but not waterlogged. Its growth will be faster in rich and moist soil, and less pronounced in shade or in drying soil. Extremely hardy, down to approximately -25°C, it can be planted almost anywhere to bring a touch of exoticism to the garden, even in cold climates.

Ideal for creating a dense hedge, Fargesia Red Zebra will also be very ornamental when planted as a solitary clump on a lawn, or integrated into an exotic or Japanese-style flower bed, as well as in clean contemporary settings. It will provide a quality background to highlight a beautiful shrub such as a Japanese Maple. Preferably choose a variety with red or purple leaves, such as the splendid Acer palmatum Twomblys Red Sentinel, as the fine palmate leaves of green varieties will not stand out visually against those of the bamboo. A beautiful Japanese Camellia, with its dark green glossy leaves gently complementing the Red Zebra hedge, will help create a Japanese scene. A classic and easy-to-grow variety such as Adolphe Audusson will provide a magnificent and visible red flowering against the greenery. Larger leaves will stand out well, especially if they are golden like those of the Cercis canadensis Melon Beauty, an Eastern Redbud with pink-purple flowers on the still bare wood, followed by the emergence of heart-shaped leaves, initially purple then turning golden green. And to enhance the sculptural and exotic aspect of your scene, if the mildness of your climate allows it, plant Eucalyptus Baby Blue!