FARGESIA MURIELAE 

7' height, Shade/sun, -20 degrees F Minimum, Clumper.  Sinarundinaria murielae, Umbrella Bamboo, Arundinaria murielae, Thamnocalamus spathaceus.

       The most popular & widely grown bamboo in the colder areas of Europe & the British Isles. Uncommon in the U.S. Likes to grow in cool, partly or entirely shaded locations. Grows slowly in tropical climates.  The culms arch strongly under the weight of many leaves. 1/2" maximum culm diameter.

        Native to mountainous areas of China at 10,000' above sea level, where it is said to be the principal food of the giant panda.  Hilliers says "This beautiful Bamboo, undoubtedly one of the best in cultivation, was introduced from China in 1913 by Ernest Wilson, after whose daughter, Muriel, it was subsequently named.

        In August of 1984 botanist Tom Soderstorm told us he felt it should be called a Sinarundinaria whereas Richard Haubrich grouped it with Thamnocalamus.  The Zhejiang Forestry Institute in China published a journal in 1988 which states the plant was originally named Fargesia in 1893 by the French botanist Franchet & then goes on to define 76 species of the genus.

        A 2 gallon pot was sold for $50 at the 1988 NCCABS auction.  1-5 gallon pots were sold at 1991 ABS sales for $25-50 each.

        Tim Meier has a well-mulched plant that is evergreen down to -25 degrees F.  This poor bamboo-crazed fellow seems to do nothing but monitor Bamboo hardiness & must not have held a decent job in years. 

        Pryse Duerfeldt had a 3-year-old plant in Negaunee, Michigan in 1992 which got -30 degrees every winter & some below-freezing conditions every month of the year.     

        Al Adelman in Westford, Mass reported that in winter of 2002 Fargesia murielae was untouched by the lowest temp, which was about -8F with abundant snow cover.