Fargesia

Fargesia is a genus of medium to small mountain clumping bamboos, found in alpine conifer forests of East Asia. They are known in Chinese as jian zhu, meaning "arrow bamboo". They can be found in China south to Vietnam and west to the eastern slopes of the Himalayas. There are currently about 90 recognised species, but morphological and genetic analysis has led to many being transferred to the genera Thamnocalamus, Yushania and Borinda, while others are still incertae sedis. The scientific name was given in honour of the French missionary and amateur botanist Père Paul Guillaume Farges.

Fargesias are some of the world's most hardy bamboos, and they do not spread vigorously. Common bamboos in the genus Fargesia are essential foods for the pandas, and the recent flowering of Fargesia nitida has had a devastating effect.

Because Fargesias are becoming more well-known for their thick clumping habits, they have become cheaper and available at many nurseries.


Some Species
Fargesia dracocephala is a woody bamboo native to central China. It is known in Chinese as longtou jianzhu, meaning dragon head Fargesia. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek and has the same meaning. It is found at high elevations in the south of Gansu, western Hubei, southern Shaanxi and northern Sichuan. The plant is a significant source of food for the giant panda.

Fargesia rufa is a woody bamboo native to western China. It is known in Chinese as qingchuan jianzhu, meaning "Qingchuan Fargesia", Qingchuan being a county within the prefecture-level city of Guangyuan in the north of Sichuan. It is found at high elevations in the north of this province as well is in the south of Gansu. The plant is a significant source of food for the giant panda.

Fargesia fungosa

Fargesia nitida (fountain bamboo)

Fargesia denudata

Fargesia angustissima

Fargesia frigida

Fargesia murieliae (umbrella bamboo)

Fargesia crassinoda

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