Fargesia Robusta in Germany

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Gatriel
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Location: Potsdam, Germany

Fargesia Robusta in Germany

Post by Gatriel »

Hello All,

I am moving into a newly built end-townhouse next year and have begun planning my garden. The house sits on a 3-way corner lot directly next to a small municipal train station. I am going to have a traditional fence but behind it I'd like some privacy as well and want something that won't take over the neighborhood nor take my lifetime to mature.

After much research I settled on bamboo and then found fargesia robusta recently. It not only looks beautiful but has all the qualities I'd be looking for in a "living fence."

The only concern I have with it is the cold. I found a nursery in Germany that sells it and advertises the plant is good down to -18°C (-1°F). For 95% of the year this is more than adequate for the climate I find myself in, however in mid-to late January we do have occasional days where it dips down to -20°C or so overnight.

By no means is this Siberia but temperatures below -18°C will objectively happen and likely annually. What is everyone's experience with fargesia robusta? Will a night or two at -22°C kill the entire plant or just a few cm off the top of it?

I probably wouldn't anticipate planting anything until April of 2021 or so and then dump a ton of fertilizer in there to give the plant as much time to "grow in" before the "dangerous" temperatures really start to roll around. Planning on planting each plant approximately 30cm/12" apart so it turns into a fence sooner rather than later.

Thanks again!
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needmore
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Re: Fargesia Robusta in Germany

Post by needmore »

Greetings! Based on what you are saying I think I would not use that species when you can perhaps find one that will work as well and endure the cold better. If your F robusta were to sustain cold damage it will likely produce new growth but much smaller and if this cycle happens often you will not have a bamboo tall enough to screen. If you depend upon a bamboo screen for privacy you really need a reliably hardy species.

I suggest that you go to the French bamboo forum at: http://lesbambous.fr/forum/ and ask your questions there, I think you'll find more people familiar with this a bamboo and your climate, perhaps they can suggest different species.
Brad Salmon, zone 12B Kea'au, HI
http://www.needmorebamboo.com
Rotas
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Re: Fargesia Robusta in Germany

Post by Rotas »

Hello,
I think its better to choose a hardier bamboo when there are better choises.
I myself have so far good experiance with Fargensia Maasai. Looks much better after a cold winter then Robusta.
Very hardy and good looking and should be able to grow fast to a ”living fence”
So far in Germany it has reach the hight of 5,45meter and is still growing but will most likely not be so high when growing as hedge.

Here is a link to the german site
https://www.bambus-heppingsen.de/html/f ... aasai.html
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needmore
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Re: Fargesia Robusta in Germany

Post by needmore »

I research this plant - Fargensia Maasai, it looks very promising and if you can find it, I think Rotas has given great advice. Thanks for introducing us to this plant Rotas, I suspect it will be many years before it shows up in the US but someone should import it ASAP.
Brad Salmon, zone 12B Kea'au, HI
http://www.needmorebamboo.com
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