Fargesia Moontears

Fargesia Moontears is a small-sized non-running bamboo with a variety of possible uses. It tolerates pruning very well, and can be shaped into topiaries, planted in the ground or in a pot, or used as a low or medium hedge. Its abundant small leaves have a beautiful green colour and form a dense clump of foliage. This plant is perfectly cold resistant, it thrives in both sun and shade, and can be easily grown in ordinary soil, as long as it is well-drained. It also looks beautiful in a container on a patio or balcony, or as a standalone clump in a small garden.

Fargesia belongs to the Poaceae family, formerly known as Gramineae. It produces woody stems that develop from a non-running rhizomatous rootstock, known as clump-forming. In this type of bamboo, the particularly short internodes of the rhizomes develop slowly at the periphery of the rootstock, which gradually widens. They also develop towards the centre of the clump, which remains very dense without thinning out in the middle. Another great advantage is that there is no risk of being invaded by rhizome shoots away from the main clump.

The cultivar 'Moontears' is a recent horticultural variety from the Well Born Bamboo Africa range, obtained through sowing and selection of the best specimens at the beginning of the 2000s. Originally from China, it is not expected to flower again for at least 90 years (which will result in its death, such is the fate of bamboos).

Due to a genetic peculiarity, the stems of this bamboo almost never reach 2m (7ft) in height, as the tip (the terminal bud) tends to spontaneously abort. The young, very thin canes, measuring about 8mm in diameter, do not therefore lengthen each year like in other varieties. Their determinate growth also explains the density of this bamboo, whose foliage remains dense even at the base. It also responds very well to pruning, becoming even denser, and ultimately benefits from being shaped rather than left to grow freely.

Its small leaves, 6cm (2in) long and 0.6cm wide, have an intense green colour, which is very ornamental. The slender culms are also green and very close together, making them particularly suitable for pruning. This bamboo can therefore be shaped from 40cm (16in) to 1m (3ft) in height, either as a low square hedge or as a topiary in the shape of a ball or cone. Pruning twice a year will help maintain the desired shape. On the other hand, it would be unwise to let it grow freely to form a clump, partly because its growth is relatively slow, and partly because it will be less dense and less attractive above 1.5m (5ft).

Very hardy, down to -23°C (-9.4°F), capable of growing in both sun and shade, not susceptible to diseases or particular insect sensitivities, this variety can advantageously replace boxwood, which has been attacked by the box tree moth for years, to create superb modern topiaries. Thriving in neutral to acidic soils, tolerating some limestone, it is also very well suited for container gardening to decorate a balcony or patio.

This unique bamboo is destined to be pruned into a hedge, square, sphere or cube, according to your inspiration. Non-invasive and compact, it will fit perfectly in a small garden, as well as in a contemporary setting. You can accompany it with other sculptural plants or topiary plants, such as Ilex crenata 'Green Lustre', a crenate holly with shiny dark green foliage, which will stand out well from the bamboo. Lonicera nitida 'Lemon Beauty', a shrubby honeysuckle with variegated green and lemon yellow foliage, will also be a good companion to create a topiary scene. If you plant it in a pot on a patio, Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Lady', a small wig tree with rounded foliage that changes from orange-yellow to golden and then back to orange in autumn, will bring dynamism to the scene.