The taxonomy of China’s bamboos still remains in a largely unrevised state as of 2016. The majority of the species have been described since 1980, frequently without knowledge of the flowers, due to the often very long flowering cycles (up to 150 years). Generic delimitation has often been highly speculative and remains controversial[].
Many species in Fargesia lack dense, spathed, unilateral inflorescences. As their flowers have become known, it has been proposed that several should be moved into the genus Borinda, which has been established specifically to accommodate such clump-forming species. In order for all these species to be listed under the same genus, we are following the treatment in the Flora of China[] where they are all temporarily maintained under Fargesia[].
The relationships among Fargesia, Thamnocalamus, Yushania, and allies are currently (2016) under investigation[].

Common Name:

General Information

Fargesia mali is an evergreen bamboo with short rhizomes forming dense clumps of erect, woody stems around 3 - 6 metres tall. The stems are around 12 - 25mm in diameter, thick-walled, with internodes around 25 - 38cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of material for weaving

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China (soutwestn Sichuan)

Habitat

At elevations from 3,000 - 3,200 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	4.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Fargesia species are native from the warm temperate zone to the tropics in eastern Asia, usually growing at moderate elevations. Many of them are fairly frost-tolerant and can be suitable for growing outdoors in the milder areas of the temperate zone.
Bamboos generally grow best in a sunny or moderately sunny position in a well-drained, fertile, open loam of reasonable quality with plenty of moisture in the growing season[]. They require a position sheltered from cold or strong winds[].
Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually -usually in the spring and early summer, and these stems grow to their maximum height in their first two to three months. Any subsequent growth in the stem is limited to the production of new side branches and leaves.
Temperate bamboo species usually grow for many years without flowering. When they do finally flower it is not unusual for all the plants of that species in the region to also flower. They do so profusely over a period of 1 - 3 years and will often then die, probably from exhaustion. Some species, if given plenty of organic matter at this time will gradually recover, although they will look rather poorly for a year or three. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[].
Bamboo species are usually notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stems are split and used for weaving a range of items[]

Propagation

Seed -