Fargesia murielae ‘Blue Lizard ‘ is a clump-forming umbrella bamboo with upright (erect) culms. Blue Lizard is a medium-size bamboo. This evergreen bamboo has dense dark foliage due to its broad-leaf clusters with a delicate blue tint.
The peculiar blue tint on the leaves look like dragon scales, so Fargesia murielae Blue Lizard is also called Fargesia murielae ‘Blue Dragon Scale’.
Fargesia murielae Blue Lizard description
Name: Fargesia murielae Blue Lizard, Fargesia murielae ‘Blue Dragon Scale’, Umbrella Bamboo.
Foliage: Evergreen, dark blue-green leaves, arching.
Culm: Upright green stem.
Height: 3 – 4m.
Spread: 1 – 2m, clump-forming.
Growth requirement
Site: Part shade to full sun.
Soil: Clay and heavy soil (prefer loam or well-drained soil)
Hardiness: – 10 to –5 degrees Celsius.
Use: Garden hedging, privacy screens, pots and containers, roof terrace, apartment balcony.
Grow Fargesia murielae Blue Lizard
Whether you grow the clumping bamboo in pots or containers or out in the open, there are a few things that you should do when preparing the soil. This also includes propagating the bamboos. Here are 3 tips to getting the bamboos off to a good start.
1. Cultivate in contained spaces
Fargesia murielae ‘Blue Lizard’ is a tough bamboo, it will thrive in clay and variable soil conditions. This clumping bamboo is medium height compared to other clumping bamboos, however, it will not reach its full height when planted in pots and containers.
Newly planted Blue Lizard bamboo will require a good amount of water. Also, ensure that the soil remains moist but well-drained until the new plants are rooting. Older plants prefer sunny spots. The blue tint on the leaves is also prominent in the sun.
2. Cultivate in garden
This clumping bamboo is a standout on the sidewalks, near driveways and in the garden hedges due to its broad leaves and dark evergreen foliage.
Blue Lizard is a great ornamental bamboo best planted in the front garden, along the side walkways or where the leaves are visible.
3. Propagate clumping bamboo ‘Blue Lizard’
The bamboo’s clump base will expand and cover the spaces within 4 – 5 years. So meanwhile, you can enjoy the bamboos and get more plants when they’ve matured.
To propagate new Blue Lizard bamboos, separate the bamboo into several divisions and grow them in propagation pots before planting them into holding pots or straight into the garden. Here is a Complete Guide to Propagating Bamboo by clump-base division.
Bamboo care and maintenance
Bamboos, like other plants, will require attention to grow well. The 6 pointers below put in perspective what you can do to ensure that your clumping bamboo, Fargesia murielae ‘Blue Lizard’, remains healthy.
1. Thinning
Thinning bamboo plants once or twice a year to promote new growths and keep the plant under control. So, selectively trim the old culms and new shoots that you do not want within the bamboo grove.
2. Pruning
Pruning bamboo is intensive work compared to thinning bamboo. Dig and remove the parts of the bamboo that have outgrown the allocated space. This is an ideal time to take the bamboo divisions for replanting; getting bamboo sticks for use in the garden.
3. Pests and diseases
Bamboos are tolerant to pests and diseases in the UK, however, slugs adore the new shoots and leaves. If you a planting a new Fargesia murielae ‘Blue Lizard’ or expecting fresh growth in Spring, always add Slug and Snail Pellets to protect them.
4. Fertiliser
Bamboos do not need fertilisers regularly, but the old plants will benefit from the added nutrients. The NPK fertilisers or any that is high in nitrogen are ideal options.
Slugs and Snails Killer | |
Feeds and Fertilisers | |
Rhizomes/Roots Barrier | |
Heavy Duty Pots and Planters |
5. Mulch
Mulching is a highly recommended care and maintenance job. It will keep the soil moist and protect the bamboo from frost and frozen soils.
Always use the bamboo leaves as mulch since they contain silicon which is naturally high in nitrogen. Organic mulch such as tree barks, grass cuttings mixed with twigs and branches are also great bamboo mulch.
The best time for mulching is early in Spring before the new bamboo shoots come out; or late in Autumn when you expect cold Winter.
Buy Fargesia murielae Blue Lizard
Blue Lizard bamboo is an ideal plant for privacy screening apartment balcony, porch or any small outdoor places that are less than 3 metres in height. Furthermore, you can prune the leaves and new shoots to give a neat hedge.
We feature prominent UK Home and Garden retailers where you can buy bamboo plants, tools and products. Check out the links to the retailers in the table for bamboo and product information.
Bamboo Plants and Supplies | UK Suppliers |
Bamboo Collections | |
Fargesia Bamboo Plants | |
Black, Green & Yellow Bamboo Plants | |
Bamboo-based Eco Products | |
Best Hand Tools for Digging Bamboo | |
Phyllostachys Bamboo Plants |
5 bamboos with beautiful foliage like ‘Blue Lizard ’
Some of our visitors suggested that we create a list of bamboos that have similar features to the bamboos we are featuring in each article. We feel that this is a great suggestion because it makes it easier to cross-reference these bamboos when making comparisons.
We are listing 5 bamboos that are similar to the Fargesia murielae ‘Blue Lizard’. The similarities are based on 5 important factors: the type (either running or clumping), height, foliage, hardiness and use.
Small Garden Bamboo |
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We also featured a special group of Award-Winning Bamboo Plants. These bamboos received the RHS Merit Award in the UK and other Bamboo Awards for their notable garden features. If you are having difficulty selecting bamboo, this group of bamboo plants will not disappoint you.
Working with bamboos
The clump formers like the Blue Lizards are non-invasive bamboos, however, clumpers in pots and containers will require repotting after 4 or 5 years. Realistically, it is often hard work removing the bamboos from a pot or container when they’ve filled out the space.
To make the work lighter, always select the right pots before planting your bamboo plants.
In addition, the clumping bamboos in the garden do not grow out of the allocated space as the running bamboos do, instead, the bamboo underground parts expand around the base. This clumping habit is visible as the new shoots grow into culms and the underground base-buds thicken.
As mentioned earlier, this could be the ideal time to prune the whole plant and get new plant divisions and bamboos sticks.
Fargesia murielae Blue Lizard
All in all, the Fargesia murielae ‘Blue Lizard’ is a formidable bamboo plant for hedging and privacy screening. Its blue tint leaves, upright culms and dense foliage are the perfect features to create a dense cover.
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At G.B.P, our goal is to provide the right information for selecting the right bamboo to grow in the garden and in pots and containers. Based on our experience, we also offer bamboo growers’’ tips and guides on how to provide the right care and maintenance for bamboo plants. You can see most of our work on YouTube.
My name’s Eric and I just found your site gardenbambooplants.com has a lot of information on bamboo plants.
Just wondered, what are some best bamboo plants for pots?
Hi Eric,
It depends on where you want to use the plants, whether indoors under covers or outdoors.
For indoors or under covers, the small bamboos are best for pots. It they will demand some care.
For outdoor, use large heady duty pots. Any running or clumping bamboo will thrive in pots but not for long as they will need repotting 3 to 5 years.
Hope that answers your questions.
Hi, I planted a clumping bamboo in the yard last spring but the leaves are turning yellow. It seems to me that the dry summer is affecting my bamboo. I watered it, yet it hasn’t recovered.
Hi Eric,
Bamboo is a resilient plant. Do not give up on it yet. Let it rest over the Winter and Spring. By spring, take off the dead leaves and any stems to promote new growth and see what happens.