Fargesia robusta cold hardiness?

[ocimum_nate]

I am thinking about trying to grow robusta again but want to hear any reports about peoples experiences with them at temperatures below -5. I have read most catalogs and such rate them at this temperature. Just wondering what if any results would be if this envelope were pushed. By the way any one have a division they would want to trade?

[needmore]

Mine was killed outright the winter recently where we did not dip below +3F. That was year 1 for it. The 'Wolong' form (purportedly hardier) has top killed every year and I finally dug it out at 4-6 inches tall. I'll container grow to see if it will gain size and then try again.

I'm sure I've posted this before, for me when a Fargesia top kills it never sizes up in the ground. I have what was being ID'd as F. dracocephala about 5-6 years ago in the ground and it looks like freshly germinated seed about 3 inches tall. F. murielae after 6 years is smaller than when it arrived

F. nitida may be worth the effort, some of my non-flowering as of yet old gen are approaching 6 feet, the new F. dracocephala (the plant formerly known as F. rufa) remains the winner among the montane species in my area.

[bambooweb]

My Robusta has only made it to about 6 inches tall each year since I planted it. It has lasted longer than the F. apircirubens (was F. dracocephala) which got shorter every year for 4 years then died.

I also have a Wolong but last winter was its first winter in the ground and it came back about a foot tall. Hopefully it look better after this winter.

Between nitida and murieliae my murieliae is doing better but it started as a large 5 gallon plant so it might take some time till the nitida catches up.


Bill

[rfgpitt]

Robusta also shoots early and can be set back by frosts.