Fargesia nitida 'Black Pearl'
Black Fountain Bamboo
from £24.50
Fargesia nitida 'Black Pearl' is rightly known as the fountain bamboo by it's graceful habit of upright canes that are held vertically only to arch over at the tips. The effect is further enhanced by the delicacy of the leaves which are produced in profusion. The canes themselves vary in colour from a fresh green to a deep purple black, in fact the stems can be so black that it is sometimes mistaken for the black bamboo. Can grow around 3 to 4 metres high and is a very good clump former. Naturally growing in woodland areas, they are tolerant of shady conditions and do not mind pot cultivation. Keep well watered for the best results. Very hardy
- Eventual Size: Up to 3-4 metres, but can be pruned
- Position: Shade to part shade out of cold, drying winds - especially coastal winds
- Foliage: Evergreen
- Habit: Dense/Arching/Clump forming/Non-invasive
- Soil: All soils, but avoid waterlogged areas very dry soils will need extra watering
Other: Fargesia nitida bamboo
- Hybrid: Fargesia nitida 'Gansu' x Fargesia nitida
Bamboo Care
Before planting it is a good idea to soak the bamboo thoroughly to ensure the rots are well and truly saturated then dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball add compost then place the bamboo so that the finished soil height will be slightly lower than the top of the root ball. Backfill using your soil mixed 50:50 with good compost. Once planted gently firm down the soil around the base add a top dressing of a good fertilizer, we prefer poultry manure, then mulch with a good 8-10 deep layer of compost. Finally water again to help settle the bamboo. In dry periods it may be necessary to repeat watering regularly, if the bamboo looks dry and the leaves are curling this is a sure sign. After the first season we repeat the mulching and feeding each spring.
Now stand back and enjoy. Don’t expect your bamboo to grow away like a rocket, yes bamboo can grow incredibly fast but most of this happens over a 3 month period which is very generally late May through to early August so if you’ve planted either side of this period I’m afraid you’ll have to wait.
Pruning and Grooming
Bamboo can be very accommodating here. I’ve seen pristine clipped hedges and topiary shaped plantings of both Phllostachys aurea and bissetti showing easy how easy it can be managed. What I like to do though on any large bamboo is to remove all old, thin and spindly canes (or culms as us horticulturists call them) then prune away all the side branches off the remaining culms to a height of between 60cm to 150cm depending on your choice. This in my opinion show bamboos off to there best making them stately specimens.
For more information see our Bamboo Care Guide for these types of Bamboo:
Also see our Bamboo FAQ
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Customer Reviews
Sue Bancroft on 1 Jun 2017
Received the 3 bamboos ordered last week. Safely packed and very healthy when removed. These are destined for 3 containers against a fence, should look lovely. Recommended.
Mary on 18 Apr 2017
Lovely healthy plants with big clumps look fabulous in the garden
Jamie on 18 Apr 2017
Really good healthy plant upon delivery is now flourishing in my garden.
Glen Howes on 11 Aug 2016
Placed my order and received the next day, superb service.
