Tiny Fern bamboo for Foliage Follow Up
Not that it’s been the easiest summer to try a new bamboo, a thirstier plant than I usually bother with, but they provide such leafy, touchable, evergreen texture in the garden that I’m willing to give ’em a little extra love, i.e., water. No thirsty annuals or tropicals for me, but a couple of beautiful clumping bamboos? Yeah, baby.
This is ‘Tiny Fern’ bamboo (Bambusa multiplex ‘Tiny Fern’), which is softening a blank corner of my foundation. The Great Outdoors says it stays small (4-5 feet) and is hardy to about 18 F. Online sources say it’s root-hardy even in zone 7, though it will die to the ground. (Can anyone growing this in zone 7 confirm?) It’s a clumper, not a runner, so it won’t take over my garden. I’m hoping that I’ve given it enough sun. Can you imagine wanting more of the Death Star, my summer-weary fellow Texans?
A large squid agave (Agave bracteosa), transplanted from my former garden, shimmies in a shallow stock-tank planter edged with Texas sedge (Carex texensis). An evergreen textural combo for September’s Foliage Follow-Up!
What foliage is inspiring you today? Join me in posting about your lovely leaves of September—it’s called Foliage Follow-Up, and it’s a way to remind ourselves of the importance of foliage in the garden. Just leave a comment on this post with a link to your foliage post so everyone can find you, and please link to me in your post.
All material © 2006-2011 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Hi Pam, Been trying a few clumping Bamboos here, but don’t have the variety you guys have in warmer climates. Love the texture and drama they provide, so we’ll keep trying!
Here’s my entry for Foliage Follow Up – http://bhld.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/foliage-follow-up-september-2011/
Thanks for hosting!
We have three different fargesia bamboos here in zone 4/5 which have been going strong for a number of years. But I picked some other foliage to show for Foliage Follow-Up. Thanks for hosting. http://eachlittleworld.typepad.com/each_little_world/2011/09/foliage-follow-up-7162011.html
Nice! From agave to bamboo, in one glance. I guess bamboos are ultimately a type of grass, so they are rather tough in some important ways. I like how the agave is in the drier raised container, while the bamboo in the moister ground…perfect!
My little contribution is at: http://desertedge.blogspot.com/2011/09/september-foliage-follow-up.html
Dear Pam,
Did you get rain Thursday? I hope so!
Jeanette
http://northtexasgardening.blogspot.com/2011/09/foliage.html
No rain yet, but ever hopeful. —Pam
Your squid agave is so graceful. You’ve done him justice by putting him in a pot high off the ground.
In keeping with the beach theme, today, I I have a beautiful palm that’s fruiting.
http://downtoearth-abbey.blogspot.com/2011/09/setember-2011-foliage-follow-up.html
What a graceful agave!
I took advantage of this Foliage Follow-up to finally post about our visit to the Bloedel Reserve.
http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2011/09/foliage-follow-up-my-visit-to-bloedel.html
The Squid agave nice. It has that soft look…not so dangerously spikey.
I’m going to need to fill in some shrub areas around here. But, where there is more moisture, there is more shade. So, that bamboo wouldn’t work. I assume though, since it’s a grass, deer wouldn’t bother it?
Here’s my Foliage Follow-Up. The usual suspects.
http://patchworkgarden.blogspot.com/2011/09/foliage-follow-up-september-2011.html
Thanks for hosting.
Stay safe…
I assume that deer wouldn’t bother a bamboo, but I haven’t tested that theory. Mine are tucked away in the back garden. A bamboo-ish look on a small scale can be achieved with inland sea oats. It has an Asian look and grows well in shade. —Pam
We had rain last night…not nearly as vital as yours, but welcome after a dry spell. I am in awe of your ability to coax an Eden from adverse conditions. My leafy offering is here: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/1854
Your squid agave is so cute!
I’m joining your Foliage Follow-up for the first time showing off the leaves of my Coral bark Japanese maple: http://www.redhousegarden.com/2011/09/coral-bark-and-turning-leaves.html
Thanks for hosting!
Hi Pam – Love that tiny Fern Bamboo – Lovely! I have my first bamboo now.
Here is my September Foliage Follow-up: http://www.thegardeningblog.co.za/gardening/foliage-follow-up-september/
Thanks for hosting!
Regards, Christine
My eyes gravitate towards the squid agave (I gotta get some of those)! Here’s my sad little Foliage Follow-up: http://thelazyshadygardener.blogspot.com/2011/09/foliage-follow-up-september-2011.html
I never got around to commenting on how much I like the new vents planted with this agave too. And the post about the the bee at the stock tank. And your Lotusland namesake waterlily!
http://agrowingobsession.com/?p=22142
Thanks, Denise. Now if I could just get to Lotusland in person one of these days. —Pam
Your garden still looks beautiful and appropriate to place, Pam. The little bamboo is sweet and adds airiness to the rigid Agaves and Yuccas. May you have blessed rain, and soon, and just the right amount. Here is my foliage follow up:
Foliage Follow Up September 2011
Here’s my link to a Garden Bloggers Foliage day, a bit later in the month for those who need more time. http://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/garden-bloggers-foliage-day-22nd-september/
Christina
What a unusual looking bamboo, Pam. I guess it wouldn’t do with me given the difference in our temperatures.I missed the foliage Follow-up (I’m just not organized enough) but I did manage to post. http://planticrunotes.blogspot.com/2011/09/fabulous-foliage.html