Dragon’s Head Bamboo

Fargesia dracocephala ‘Rufa’

Plant Details

USDA Cold Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Type: Clumping

Height: 6-10′

Spread: 6-10′

Culm Diameter: 1/2″

Sun: USDA Zone 6: Full Sun or Part Shade | USDA Zones 7-9: Shade to Part Shade

Soil: Average, moist but well-drained

Growth Rate: Faster with more sun, slower in shade

Description

Dragon’s Head Bamboo, or Rufa Bamboo, is one of the most cold hardy of all evergreen clumping bamboo. This one doesn’t run at all but, similar to pampas grass and other large ornamental grasses, forms a clump that will increase in size over the years, similar to pampas or other large growing ornamental grasses. Dragon’s Head Bamboo forms dense mounds of arching canes with willowy foliage that is a very graceful specimen in the landscape. It is also useful in groupings or as a mid-size hedge that grows to 10 feet tall and wide over time. The plants in our gardens have grown to about 5 feet tall in as many years. That said, we have it growing in a lot of shade where it receives no direct sunlight. With more sun we hear it quickly shoots up to about 10 feet in height. That said, in hot climates from Zone 7a southward this bamboo prefers some shade or filtered sun during the hot afternoon hours.

Landscape & Other Uses

Containers/Pots: Excellent

Crafts: Good

Edible: Too small

Hedge: Excellent

Indoor: Good – PLEASE SEE: How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Ornamental: Excellent

Privacy Screen: Good

Wood Quality: NA

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Bamboo variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

Dragon’s Head Bamboo grows well in most any average garden soil and full sun to part shade in USDA Zone 6 and shade or part shade in Zones 7-9, where it prefers some afternoon shade or heavily filtered sun. Quite drought tolerant but prefers an occasional deep soaking during prolonged periods of dry summer weather.

How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Dragon’s Head bamboo is a clumping bamboo that does not require any control to contain it. That said, it grows up to 10 feet wide. If you want to contain it to a smaller area this can be done. Bamboo can be controlled in a small area simply by mowing or stepping on the young shoots. Bamboo only puts up new shoots for a short time each year and, when they are “shooting,” the new plants are very fragile and easy to destroy. Root pruning or installing Bamboo Root Barrier are other methods to control spread.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Bamboo plants.

How To Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

How To Plant Bamboo Plants In The Ground

How To Plant Bamboo Plants In Containers & Pots

How To Fertilize And Water Bamboo Plants

How To Prune Bamboo Plants

How To Stop The Spread Of Bamboo Plants

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Brought some Dragon Head Bamboo was not expecting it to be this nice!——————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

My bamboo arrived in excellent condition as I expected from Wilson Bros, however it wasn’t a gallon container as described. More like a 2 quart size. But they are doing well. No complaints.———————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the good review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Very nice plant. Fast shipping and great packaging. Thank you.———————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

After research we decided to plant this in planter box. In an effort to shield us and provide some privacy in adjacent houses at the beach, Oceanside.
Came as beautiful plant but too early to tell if it serves it purpose.—————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Bamboo plants arrived in great condition and were very well wrapped and identified. Planted them about a week later and they seem to be doing great so far…I would order from this company again for sure. Now I just need them to grow really fast!——————–WBG Reply: Hi Debra, Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review of the Dragons Head Bamboo. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!
Beth Steele | Wilson Bros Gardens