Fargesia murielae Lava Umbrella Bamboo [Clumping Bamboo]

Fargesia murielae Lava is a small, bushy evergreen Umbrella Bamboo, non-invasive and undemanding. 

Known for its dense and compact arching foliage close to the ground. 

If you want a small bamboo to grow in a contained space or for a low hedge or screen, Fargesia murielae Lava is the best option.

Fargesia murielae Lava Characteristics

• Identification: Fargesia murielae Lava, Umbrella Bamboo, Small Bamboo Lava.
• Foliage: Bushy dense green foliage.
• Culm: Striking yellow-green stem.
• Height: 2m, small bamboo.
• Spread: 1 – 2m, does not spread, well-behaved bamboo.
• Use: Excellent container plant, small hedge or screen, landscape.
• Perennial: 10 – 20 years.

Bamboo Growth Conditions

• Site: Full sun to part shade and shade.
• Soil: Loam, sand and clay.
• Moisture: Well-drained and moist.
• Hardiness: (To be updated)

Buy Fargesia Bamboo Plants UK

We’ve compiled a list of the reputable Garden retailers in the UK where you can buy the right bamboo at the right price. 

Click on the link to check out the UK Home & Garden retailers selling clumping bamboo plants.

How to Select Bamboo Fargesia Murielae

Before buying a bamboo plant, check out the features because they will help you to select the bamboo that meets your expectation. 

The 5 tips below will guide you to select the right Bamboo Fargesia Murielae.

• Size of your pot/container.
• Height of your hedge or screen.
• How far does the bamboo spread?
• How cold does it get in Winter (see hardiness)?
• Space or area where you want to plant the bamboo.

Grow Bamboo Fargesia murielae Lava

Fargesia murielae Lava is similar to Fargesia murielae Simba, however, it is smaller, compact and miniature in appearance. Simba is taller by 2 - 3 m than its small cousins.

Fargesia varieties, and especially the murielae bamboos, are less demanding compared to the other Fargesia Robusta group of bamboo plants. 

The small clump-forming bamboo plants like the Fargesia murielae Lava are best for small and contained spaces

They are brilliant for creating Tropical effects with their broad and elongated leaves and dense foliage. 

Lava can grow at a rate of 0.3 to 1.0 metres in a year in the UK. This small bamboo is tough and tolerant of pests and natural threats like wind or snow.

On average, this fast-growing miniature bamboo can reach its full height (of ~2m) in 3 - 5 years. 

After that, it will remain evergreen for an estimated 10 – 20 years under the right growing conditions and care.

Uses of Bamboo Fargesia murielae Lava

This clump-forming non-invasive (small) bamboo is the best choice for small hedges and screens. Fargesia murielae Lava thrives as pot plants and indoor container plants. 

Bamboo Lava adapts well to confined spaces. One reason why it makes a good container plant is its compact ‘Umbrella’ effect. Stunning in Summer.

Another reason for this non-invasive Umbrella Bamboo is the eye-catching contrasting colours. 

In fact, the broad dark green leaves and arching branches and slender yellow-green culms make it the best choice for small bamboo.

Here are some tips to grow this small plant indoor.

Maintain Bamboo Fargesia murielae Lava

To avoid the natural threats to your bamboo plants, do these:

• Apply Slug and Snail Killer around your new bamboo.
• Tie the culms to poles/stakes
• Add organic mulch.

Generally, the bamboo plants thrive in well-aerated loam, or sand and loose clay soil but the older plants will require fertiliser and moisture, at least, once in Spring. 

Check to see if they are putting out new shoots, or whether the leaves and soil are in good condition.

This clump-forming bamboo loves moist soil, but not waterlogged soil. Something to avoid if you are growing a new bamboo plant. 

Propagate Fargesia murielae Lava

There are three ways to propagate bamboo plants from the seeds, or by culm and rhizome cuttings, or culm separation.

Some bamboo growers have successfully used the conventional ‘Layering’ as the fourth way to propagate large bamboos. 

However, propagating bamboos from the cuttings and by separation is, by far, the two popular ways many gardeners use in the UK.

We give a detailed insight into different methods of propagating bamboo plants in this video.

Fargesia murielae Lava Small Umbrella Bamboo

Fargesia murielae Lava is an Umbrella Bamboo that stands out from the other small Umbrella Bamboo we feature in Garden Bamboo Plants (GBP).

Identifiably, Bamboo Lava’s best features are its yellow-green small stems, compact foliage and low and low hanging branches.

If you want to give a small compact space (or undergrowth or front hedge) a serene tropical look, this small bamboo will do the job.