Bree

Black bamboo

Fargesia ‘Winter Black’

• 
  Almost unkillable
• 
  Most light conditions
• 
  Evergreen

• Bree likes...
  • 
    Most light conditions

    She’s very easygoing and will manage in sun or shade. She’ll grow much faster in a sunny spot.

  • 
    Moist soil

    She likes quite moist soil, so water her regularly. Make sure excess water can drain from the bottom of her pot.

  • 
    Feeding

    Keep her growing healthily by giving her a liquid feed in spring and summer. A couple of times a month is enough.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Fargesia ‘angustissima’

  Nickname

  Black bamboo

  Plant type

  Evergreen, outdoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  130-140cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Yes

  Nursery pot size

  24cm

• About black bamboo

  Stylish, low-maintenance and a bit unusual, black bamboo is a great way to add a little drama to any outdoor space. Its stems are pale green when they first emerge and gradually turn black as they age. It’s evergreen so adds year-round interest and makes a simple backdrop for other plants.

  Like all bamboo, it grows fast. It’s perfect to use as a screen, either to provide privacy or shelter from wind, because it grows tall and dense. It will grow as big as you let it, so we advise keeping it in its pot rather than planting it in the ground. If you plant it in the ground you might find it takes over much of your garden.

  Kept potted, it’s really easy to look after. Water it enough to keep the soil lightly moist and cut back the stems if you ever feel like they’re getting too tall (they can reach two-metres). The stems make perfect supports for other plants, so you can reuse any you chop down.

  Bamboo is a bit of a superstar plant. Mostly native to Asia and Australia, it can be used for all sorts of things, from food to building houses. Its sustainability is making the wood more and more popular.

  Did you know?

  Because it lasts for so long, bamboo is considered a symbol of friendship in India.