Fargesia Robusta Formidable Clump-forming

Fargesia Robusta Formidable Best Qualities: ‘Formidable’ is ideal for low hedges, screens or medium to large containers. Its upright culms and arching evergreen foliage can withstand temperatures as low as – 15 degrees Celsius, a very hardy plant. Closely resembles the clump-forming Fargesia Robusta Campbell.

Characteristics Fargesia Robusta Formidable

• Identification: Fargesia Robusta Formidable, Umbrella Bamboo
• Foliage: Evergreen dense foliage.
• Culm: upright, brown sheath, green culm.
• Height: 3 – 5m at full height (avoid growing in windy sites)
• Spread: 2 –4, clump-forming.
• Use: Screen, hedge, containers, oriental garden, individual plant.
• Perennial: 10 -20 years.

Bamboo Growth requirements

• Site: Full sun to part shade.
• Soil: loam, sand and clay.
• Moisture: Well-drained and moist.
• Hardiness: – 15 to – 10 degrees Celsius, hardy bamboo.

Buy Fargesia Robusta Formidable

We’ve compiled a list of the reputable Garden retailers in the UK where you can buy the right bamboo at the right price. Click on the link in the table to check out the Bamboo Collections.

How to choose bamboo plants to grow

Before buying a bamboo plant, check out the features that we provide. The best qualities and features we list on each page will give you an idea about the bamboo in 5 – 20 years’ time.

To know about the general appearance, height, spread, hardiness and all that you expect of the bamboo, use these tips given below or check out the features above carefully. Knowing bamboo features prior to choosing bamboo to grow is the best thing you can do now.

• Space or area where you want to plant it.
• Height of your hedge or screen.
• Size of your pot/container.
• How cold does it get in Winter (see hardiness)?
• How far does the bamboo spread?

You’ll find the right bamboo plant by using your expectations (what you ideally want the bamboo for) and the features of the bamboo (we stated here).

Grow Formidable Green Screen Bamboo

Robusta Formidable resembles Fargesia Robusta Campbell, however, it is smaller, shorter and broader in appearance.

It is difficult to identify these two Robusta Bamboo varieties from images. The best way to tell the difference is to compare them side by side, Campbell is tall and slim whereas Formidable is compact. As the name suggests, both bamboo plants are fast-growing, robust plants.

Fargesia Robusta varieties can be quite demanding compared to the other Fargesia group of bamboo plants. As the name suggests, the Robusta Bamboo plants produce a lot of new shoots after the first or second year of growth. It will form tight clusters of culms and thick evergreen foliage.

Formidable grows at a rate of 0.5 to 2.m metres in one growth year in the UK. On average, this fast-growing bamboo can reach maturity at 3 – 5 years. After that, it will remain evergreen for an estimated 10 – 20 years.

Uses of Fargesia Robusta Formidable

This clump-forming non-invasive bamboo is the best choice for small to medium hedges and privacy screens. In fact, the broad dark green leaves and arching branches and upright culms provide make it the best choice for any cover.

It is also an ideal bamboo for small to medium pots and containers. One reason why it makes a good container plant is its compact nature. It adapts well to confined spaces.

Another reason this bamboo is ideal for pots and containers is that it produces an ‘umbrella’ effect with its arching branches and upright (compact) stems.

Fargesia Robusta Formidable Care

Although bamboo plants are tolerant, there is a number of natural threats growers should be mindful of.

Mitigating these early threats is the best thing to do to protect the new growth. Here are the common natural threats that are likely to affect the growth of your Fargesia Robusta Formidable :

• New leaves, bamboo shoots and rhizomes tips are susceptible to slug attack.
• Frozen soil damages the exposed root hairs and rhizomes.
• Strong winds damage the tender new culms.
• Bamboo plants will occasionally need mulch as fertilizer.

Protect Fargesia Robusta Formidable

To avoid the natural threats to your bamboo plants, do these:

• Apply Slug and Snail Killer around your new bamboo.
• Add organic mulch.
• Tie the culms to poles/stakes.

Generally, the bamboo plants thrive in well-aerated loam, or sand and loose clay soil but the older plants will require fertiliser and moisture, at least, once in Spring. Check to see if they are putting out new shoots, or whether the leaves and soil are in good condition.

This clump-forming bamboo loves moist soil, but not waterlogged soil, The roots hairs will decay very quickly in waterlogged soil. Something to avoid if you are growing a new bamboo purchase.

Propagate Fargesia Robusta Formidable

There are three ways to propagate bamboo plants from the seeds, or by culm and rhizome cuttings, or by culm separation.

Some people have successfully used the conventional ‘Layering’ as the fourth way to propagate large bamboos. However, propagating bamboos from the cuttings and by separation is, by far, the two popular ways many gardeners use in the UK.

Our experience has indicated that the slugs were capable of wiping out the tender growths in one visit when left unprotected. To protect the new bamboo shoots and rhizome tips, add Slug and Snail Killer around the new plants.

Fergasia Robusta Bamboo Collections at GBP

Fargesia Robusta Formidable is an Umbrella Bamboo that resembles other Robusta Bamboo plants that we feature on Garden Bamboo Plants (GBP).

Formidable’s best features among the Robusta Bamboo group are the copious number of leaves and bright yellow stems, non-invasiveness and tight upright formation.

Here is a unique selection of Small to medium Fargesia Robusta Bamboo plants under the Umbrella Bamboo label.

1. Fargesia Robusta Campbell
2. Scabrida Asian Wonder
3. Fargesia Robusta Pingwu
4. Frosty Bamboo Angustissima
5. Robusta Bamboo Collection

Bamboo Plants for Hedge, Screen or Contained Spaces

Our work on bamboo on this site shows that there is, in fact, the right bamboo plant for every garden and contained space.

Bamboo plants are tolerant and tough, they provide the evergreen perennial effect. These plants are fast-growing and long-lasting and provide the best greenery cover all year round.

Bamboo plants are known to grow at an average rate of 0.5 – 1.0m in Spring and Summer, reaching their full maturity within 3 – 5 years. Interestingly, these hardy plants remain evergreen for up to 20 years, even more.

Need help choosing a Bamboo?

Watching the bamboo hedge dancing in the wind or standing among the white snowfall providing the evergreen cover is a wonderful experience. You can create this experience wherever you are with the right bamboo.

Let us know what your requirements are, comment below. We will suggest a bamboo that is right for you based on the qualities and features of the bamboo plants we feature here on GBP.