You can see the bamboo behind the fence in the center of picture.

Tomorrow will be the test as it gets to -6 degrees, and the denudata is only supposed to be hardy to -5 degrees. Still appears green and alive for now.

Good luck. The thing I've noted about growing barely hardy clumpers - in my case, Thamnocalamus tessellatus - is that if they get fully established before cold winters, they will come roaring back from the roots. So that has been how my 'bergs bamboo' has behaved. Got pretty big before polar vortex I (2013-2014), maybe 8' tall, but was never as big again. The dead canes made for nice garden stakes for a few years!

OTOH yours are newly planted so YMMV. Like I said, good luck...

David,

Thank you. So when do you know the conequence of the winter on the bamboo? Can you tell right away or is it only apparent in the spring?

My fargesia nitidas lost all their leaves in the beginning of winter so they could be dead or maybe they are just dormant. The denudata still has its leaves throughout winter so far, although they have become a more pale shade of green as it has gotten colder.

Can't be sure until the soil has warmed enough to start regrowth from the roots.

March 30, 2022 and the Fargesia Nitidas look healthy after their first Chicago winter.

That's healthy ? It looks dead to me :) I have a nitida too.

Well, I'm happy to announce my nitida new shoots are about one foot high at the moment. It will be 29 or so Friday, so I hope all is well (darn weather).

My shoots are still hiding.