USDA Cold Hardiness Zones: 7a-9b Find Your Zone

NOTE: Not for climates with high heat and humidity such as the deep South

Type: Clumping

Height: 10-15'

Spread:  6-10'

Culm Diameter: 3/4"

Sun: USDA Zones 7: Full Sun  USDA Zone 8-9: Part Shade or Dappled Shade

Soil: Average, moist but well-drained

Growth Rate: Moderate

Containers/Pots: Excellent

Crafts: Good

Edible: Too small

Hedge: Excellent

Indoor: Good - PLEASE SEE: How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Ornamental: Excellent

Privacy Screen: Good

Wood Quality: NA

Robust Bamboo, Fargesia robusta, grows well in most any average garden soil and full sun to part shade in USDA Zone 7a-8a and shade or part shade in Zones 8b-9, where it at least needs some afternoon shade or heavily filtered sun. Robust Bamboo can grow in sun or shade but doesn't like hot and humid climates such as in the Southeast. If you live and garden in the Southeast and feel you must give this beauty a try, make sure to plant it in shade or dappled shade. In areas with low humidity plants will tolerate temperatures to 100°F. That said, in hot climates where temperatures go above 90 you'll want to provide some afternoon shade or filtered sun. Otherwise, in cooler climates it will do fine in full sun. This Fargesia is able to withstand cold and windy winter conditions down to 0°F with little to no stress to the foliage.

Robust bamboo is a clumping bamboo that does not require any control to contain it. That said, it grows up to 10 feet wide. If you want to contain it to a smaller area this can be done. Bamboo can be controlled in a small area simply by mowing or stepping on the young shoots. Bamboo only puts up new shoots for a short time each year and, when they are "shooting," the new plants are very fragile and easy to destroy. Root pruning or installing Bamboo Root Barrier are other methods to control spread.