Fargesia nitida Volcano - Non-running Bamboo

The Fargesia nitida 'Volcano' is a new variety of small non-invasive bamboo recognizable by its straight and tidy habit, purple canes, and dense but fine, vibrant green foliage. Its modest growth allows it to fit into small gardens and is perfectly suited for container cultivation to decorate terraces and balconies. Like all Fargesia, it slowly spreads over the years without ever becoming invasive. Whether in the ground or in containers, this superb bamboo thrives in all exposures, in moist but well-drained soil, preferably non-chalky.

The Fargesia nitida is a plant of the poaceae family, a type of woody-stemmed grass that develops from a non-invasive rhizomatous rootstock, known as clump-forming. In this type of bamboo, the very short internode rhizomes develop slowly at the periphery of the rootstock, which gradually expands, but they also develop towards the interior of the clump, thus remaining very dense without thinning out in the centre. The Fargesia nitida is native to central China where it grows in pine forests up to 3400m (11154.9 ft) altitude, making it one of the hardiest bamboos. It is cultivated as far as Canada.

'Volcano' is a recently selected compact cultivar for the colour of its canes and its very upright habit. The plant forms a narrow and dense clump from bottom to top, reaching about 2m (6.6ft) in height. Its growth is rapid, around 30 to 40cm (15.7in) per year, depending on the growing conditions. Eventually, the plant will spread about 80cm (31.5in) on the ground, on average. The canes are upright, slender, 1cm (0.4in) in diameter but sturdy, purple in colour and covered in bloom when young. Over time, they become more purplish in colour. The foliage on the canes is evergreen and distributed almost throughout their height. The leaves are abundant, small, lanceolate, and tapering at their tips, of a dark, bold, and vibrant green colour.

The Fargesia 'Volcano', tall, very clean-looking, evergreen, and fast-growing, is perfect for creating a small hedge, a privacy screen, or a noise barrier. Showcase it in the garden or on the terrace, as a standalone clump, or in a large pot or container on the balcony or terrace. It integrates well into a shrub bed composed of small conifers, tree angelica, or Japanese maples. Some large perennials like large grasses, giant cannas, and tall dahlias (Dahlia imperialis) will also be good companions for this magnificent bamboo. To add interest during the summer, it can be paired, with a viticella-type clematis with red flowers (Madame Julia Correvon, purpurea Plena Elegans, Avant Garde) whose tendrils will wrap around the purple canes, their small foliage blending very naturally into the vegetation of the bamboo.