Rick, what a great resource. Thank you so much for posting the links! I found it interesting that the American Bamboo Society has it listed as Fargesia dracocephala 'Rufa' (as so many other places do) - especially in light of this conversation yesterday:
The thread "Fargesia Rufa vs Panda" in
Plant Database forum
I find it all quite confusing
RickCorey said:
I originally chose F. rufa because I wanted to grow bamboo poles and hoops around 1/2" diameter. After four years, mine is still closer to a thick, stiff grass than a bamboo skewer, let alone a chopstick or 1/2" hoop!
It is amazing to me how variable this particular cultivar seems to be. I will be interested to see how it performs here (fingers crossed). I will not mind if it remains grass-like as long as it comes in thick and fairly tall. I have neighbors who use the lot line as a trash area and I need a good, tropical -looking screen quickly. I read a few blogs where landscapers are using F. rufa as screens and most are planting them 10' on center, estimating full coverage in approximately 3 years. I am now concerned, though, after reading your account of inches per year that I may be quite disappointed in the results. I had considered using Arundo donax but thought that would be too hostile of an act
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