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Fargesia robusta 'Formidable' (Pot Size 3L) Fountain Bamboo

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Quick Guide

  • Non-invasive clump-forming evergreen bamboo
  • Cascading fountain-like foliage creates elegant effect
  • Hardy to -25°C; H5 hardiness rating
  • Fast-growing; reaches 1m annually once established
  • Excellent for evergreen screening and hedging

Fargesia robusta 'Formidable' is a striking clump-forming bamboo that creates a tall fountain of dark green foliage. This evergreen cultivar grows to 3-4 metres tall, with a spread of around 1 metre, forming a substantial yet contained clump that never spreads invasively.

The plant's distinctive features include erect light green culms (canes) that emerge reddish-brown and hairy in spring, maturing to deep red with age. Creamy-white papery sheaths clothe the young culms, adding texture to the display. The narrowly lance-shaped leaves create a delicate cascading effect, earning the common name Fountain Bamboo.

Growth is vigorous once established, adding approximately one metre per year. Plant in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade, though it tolerates morning sun and exposed positions. It thrives in clay or loam and adapts well to acid, neutral, or alkaline pH. This bamboo is exceptionally hardy, rated H5, withstanding temperatures to -25°C, making it reliably winter-hardy across the UK. Water regularly until established, then maintain consistent moisture during growing season. Mulch heavily in early spring. No regular pruning is needed; simply remove any weak or damaged culms in spring. Container-growing is possible in large, weighted pots, particularly in windy locations.

Ideal for screening, hedging, Japanese gardens, and specimen planting, this non-invasive bamboo suits modern landscapes and provides year-round structure and interest.

Plant Guide

Plant in spring in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. Water regularly until established. Apply thick mulch in early spring to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. This bamboo is H5 hardy, tolerating -25°C. Feed with balanced fertiliser in spring if container-grown. Protect foliage from harsh winds in severe winters if possible. Remove dead culms in spring as needed. Once established (2-3 years), it requires only moisture during dry spells and is otherwise low-maintenance.

  • EAN code
    046079
  • Ultimate Height
    3-4M
  • Ultimate Spread
    1-1.5m
  • Foliage Colour
    Dark Green
  • Scent
    None
  • Sunlight
    Full Sun or Partial Shade
  • UK Hardiness Zone
    H5
  • Care Guide
    Low maintenance
  • Planting Season
    Spring
  • Season of Interest
    Year-round
  • Growth Rate
    Fast
  • Drought Tolerant
    No
  • Award of Garden Merit
    Yes
  • Foliage Type
    Evergreen
  • Soil Type
    Moist, Loam
  • Pot Size Litre
    3

Delivery Areas

We deliver within the M25 area of London. For deliveries of Pots & Planters outside this zone, we may be able to help on a case-by-case basis — please contact our sales team at [email protected]. You are also welcome to visit our garden centre in Kentish Town, where our team will be happy to help in person.

Delivery Costs & Delivery Day

Delivery charges are based on postcode zone within the M25. Enter your postcode at the top of this page to see your zone and cost, or check at checkout. You can also select your preferred delivery day at checkout.

Delivery Timeframes

We aim to deliver orders within 2–4 working days. During peak seasons, such as Christmas, delivery times may vary slightly due to increased demand. We will keep you informed at every stage.

Third-Party Couriers

For London postcodes outside a 5-mile radius of our Kentish Town garden centre, we may occasionally use a third-party courier for delivery. In these cases, we try our best to still deliver the items in the requested delivery time slot but please be aware that occasionally this may not always be possible and is out of our control.

Delivery Discrepancies

Please check your order as soon as it arrives. If there is any discrepancy — such as a missing, incorrect, or damaged item — please contact us within 48 hours of delivery so we can put things right. After this time, we will assume the order was received complete and in good condition. We are unable to take responsibility for damage that has occurred after this period.

Click & Collect

We encourage you to collect from our garden centre in Kentish Town — it saves on delivery costs and gives you the chance to see our full range of plants and products in person.

All Click & Collect orders must be collected within 7 days of being ready, unless a later date has been arranged with us in advance. If an order is not collected within this time, it will be cancelled and a refund issued.

Returns Policy

If you need to return an item, please contact us within 14 days of receipt to arrange a return or exchange. Products must be in their original condition and packaging. Plants may be non-refundable unless they arrive damaged or defective.

Items bought in-store or collected can be returned directly at the garden centre. If you would like us to collect a return and it is in good condition (e.g. you have changed your mind), it must be in its original condition, and the same delivery cost will apply for the return.

Plants marked as reduced for end-of-season clearance are non-refundable, as they are sold specifically to clear stock. This does not apply to special offers or multibuy promotions, which are eligible for returns as per our standard terms.

Questions about delivery or returns? Email [email protected] or call +44 (0) 20 7284 4999.

Located in Kentish Town, London, Boma garden centre is proud of its vision to transform the city into an urban paradise. The garden centre has created a plant lover's paradise, a place where you can relax, unwind and de-stress among the foliage and flowers. The Webshop makes it easier to order online if you can't get to the garden centre, with nationwide delivery. But we encourage plant lovers to pop in for a visit and chat with the team. 

 

 

Creating an urban paradise

Our dream is to transform urban living into a plant lovers' paradise. Making our neighbourhoods a wonderful place is good for our wellbeing and more friendly to the environment. A shared vision that gets us out of bed in the morning.

We've curated a botanical sanctuary

Our team of horticulturists planned our garden centre to show plants in their natural habitat, with inspirational displays. Looking for plants is like taking a walk in a botanical sanctuary.
And for those that consider our canine friends an essential part of life, bring your best mate along. Hopefully, they'll get along with our house cat Blue Bell.

It so happens we stock some fabulous plants

Our garden centre specialises in rare specimen plants beyond the common garden varieties. We also stock everything you need to cultivate your dream garden, home and office, with the largest range of plants, pots and containers in North London. Apparently, visitors consider us  The gardener's garden centre.

 

Buy Fargesia robusta 'Formidable' (Pot Size 3L) Fountain Bamboo at The Boma Garden Centre in Kentish Town, London. Visit our garden centre in London and check our wide range of plants & gardening products. We also offer many other  products in our webshop. We look forward to seeing you soon!