[5][6] They are medium to small mountain clumping bamboos, native to alpine conifer forests of East Asia, from China south to Vietnam and west to the eastern slopes of the Himalayas.

The scientific name was given in honour of the French missionary and amateur botanist Père Paul Guillaume Farges (1844–1912).

Giant panda habitat will therefore need at least two species of Fargesia, to ensure food supply during flowering events.

[citation needed] There are currently about 80–90 recognised species, but morphological and genetic analysis suggest transferring many of these to the genera Thamnocalamus, Yushania and Borinda.

[9] As of June 2021[update], Plants of the World Online accepts the following species:[1] Media related to Fargesia at Wikimedia Commons