From Grove to Garden
Take a behind-the-scenes look at how we grow and ship bamboo at Lewis Bamboo — carefully dug, containerized, watered, grown, and packaged so healthy, ready-to-plant bamboo arrives at your door.
Rufa (Cold hardy Clumper)
[2 PACK] 3" Starter Pot
$39.00
Sale price
$39.00
Regular price
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Rufa (Cold hardy Clumper)
Fargesia Dracocephala 'Rufa'
$39.00
Sale price
$39.00
Regular price
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Healthy-arrival guarantee
If your bamboo arrives damaged or unhealthy, we'll make it right with a replacement or refund — backed by 30+ years of growing experience.
Will it grow in my area?
About & Sizing
Small, cold hardy clumping or non invasive bamboo that makes a great specimen plant. Unlike running bamboos, clumping bamboos stay contained and do not spread far outside of the original planting.
Fargesia Dracocephala 'Rufa' is a beautiful small green cold hardy clumping (non invasive) bamboo that has a vase shape form. Great plant for a specimen planting but slow to form a privacy screen. One of the hardiest of all the clumping species making it a good specimen plant for landscape or small, urban gardens.
Planting locations in hot afternoon sunlight exposure (southern states) should be avoided in climate zones 7.
Fargesia ‘Rufa’ Bamboo offers a blend of beauty, practicality, and ease of care that appeals to both novice and experienced gardeners. Its clumping growth habit, elegant appearance, and versatility make it a valuable addition to a wide range of landscapes. Whether you're seeking to create privacy screens, enhance the visual appeal of your garden, or contribute to the local ecosystem, Rufa stands as an outstanding choice that leaves a lasting impression of natural elegance and serenity.
'Rufa' is from Sichuan and also known as Gansu 95-1. It produces early shoots and can be very hardy.
Plant introduction was in 1995
- Species
- Fargesia Dracocephala 'Rufa'
- Mature height
- 10 ft
- Mature cane Ø
- 0.5″
- Sunlight
- Sun to Shade
- Cold hardiness
- -10°F minimum
- Type
- Running bamboo
Size & Spacing
The plants we ship are starter divisions from established groves — and the larger the size you choose, the bigger its root system and the faster it fills in.
- For a privacy screen, plant on 5-foot centers or closer. Tighter spacing and a bigger starting size give you a solid wall of green sooner — often in 3–5 years.
- For a grove or specimen, give each plant space to spread and show its form.
- Each spring brings taller, thicker canes until the grove reaches mature size. How bamboo grows → · Planting guide →
Care Guide
- Light. At least 4 hours of filtered sun or more. A few large-leaf dwarf species are happy in partial shade.
- Water. Keep the soil evenly moist through the first growing season while roots establish. Once established, bamboo is quite drought-tolerant — just never let it sit in standing water.
- Soil. Not fussy. Neutral pH, well-draining loam with organic matter is ideal, but it grows well in clay too. Roots feed in the top 12″ of soil.
- Growth. New canes shoot each spring (roughly March–May), reaching full height in about 60 days. The grove fills in noticeably after about three full years.
- Feeding. A balanced, time-release fertilizer in spring can speed establishment by a year or more.
- Containing it. Running bamboo spreads by shallow underground rhizomes. Root-prune twice a year, or install Bamboo Shield for a worry-free barrier. How bamboo grows →
Container & Planter Info
Bamboo thrives in large containers with good drainage — perfect for patios, balconies, and defining outdoor spaces.
- Pick a hardier plant. Containers don't insulate roots the way the ground does. For year-round pots, choose a species rated a zone or two colder than your area.
- Go big. A larger container means more root room, more insulation, and faster growth. Make sure it has drainage holes.
- Water more often. Potted plants dry out faster — check soil moisture regularly, especially in summer.
- Refresh every few years. Top-dress, or divide and repot, once the roots fill the container.
How It Arrives
Your plant ships nursery-fresh from our family-run farm — an established, well-rooted division (never a fresh-dug start), carefully packed to travel safely.
- On arrival, unbox right away, give it a good drink, and let it settle in a sheltered spot for a few days before planting. Planting instructions →
- A little leaf drop or yellowing is normal after shipping — bamboo is evergreen and flushes fresh leaves each spring.
- Healthy-arrival guarantee. If your plant shows up in poor shape, we'll make it right. See our guarantee →
FAQs
Will running bamboo spread?
Yes — that's how it forms a screen. It spreads by shallow rhizomes that are easy to direct with twice-yearly root pruning or a Bamboo Shield barrier.
How fast will it grow?
New canes can grow up to 4 feet a day in spring, and the grove fills in noticeably after about three years. How bamboo grows →
When will it green up after planting?
Some leaf drop after shipping is normal. Bamboo is evergreen and pushes fresh leaves in spring as new shoots emerge.
How far apart should I plant for a screen?
Plant on 5-foot centers or closer for a screen in 3–5 years. Closer spacing fills in faster — you can't over-plant bamboo.
Will it grow in my area?
Use the growing-zone tool in the header (or the "Will it grow here?" panel above) to check this plant against your zone.