Cooperative
Extension ServiceThe University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Cooperative
Extension Service
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
(Author credit: Will Roberds, Conyers, Georgia;
Reprinted by permission of the Southeastern Palm
and Exotic Plant Society)
Bamboos are tropical or warm-temperate grasses with mostly evergreen leaves. Bamboos range in size from several inches high to more than 100 feet for the largest tropical species.
In the Southeast, bamboo is vilified by many, revered by a minority, and understood by virtually no one. When used properly, however, few plants are more effective in creating a subtropical mood in the landscape.
Bamboo "canes," known as culms, grow from a branching underground root structure known as a rhizome. The branching habit of the rhizome determines the growth habit of the bamboo. Clumping bamboos have rhizomes that grow only a short distance before sending up new culms. Most clumping bamboos cannot tolerate more than a few degrees of frost. Running bamboos have rhizomes that produce long offshoots before sending up new culms. It is the more aggressive species of running bamboo that have caused bamboo to suffer so much bad press. Many running bamboos can tolerate frost down to about 0 degrees F or lower.
Bamboo follows an annual growth cycle that is somewhat different from other plants. For running bamboos, this cycle begins with the onset of warm weather in March or April. At this time, last year's leaves are shed on the older culms and replaced with new leaves. This process has led to an unusual Japanese term for the spring season: "Bamboo autumn." At about the same time, new shoots emerge from the underground rhizome. Within a matter of weeks, most of the bamboo shoots "telescope" into new culms. The growth rate of the culms during these few weeks can be very rapid, especially in the larger bamboo species.
Once the culm has grown to its full height, all vertical growth ceases. Gradually side branches appear on the new culm, followed by leaves. The culm does not become entirely woody until its third or fourth year. Individual culms rarely live for more than ten years and start to decline after about the fifth year.
Clumping bamboos follow a slightly different growth cycle. New growth usually begins in June or July with the onset of hot, rainy weather. Shooting continues most of the summer and can continue until frost. On clumping bamboos, the new culms will often not develop branches or leaves until the next summer.
Most of the below-ground growth of bamboo occurs in the late summer and fall. At this time the bamboo rhizomes put out new underground branches in preparation for the next year's growth.
Bamboo grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil such as might be found on the bank of a river or creek. The Southeast's single native species of bamboo, Arundinaria gigantea, is commonly referred to as "river cane." Bamboo cannot grow in swampy soil that is waterlogged all year. Bamboo grows well in sandy soil and very well in red clay. In Japan, where red clay is scarce, it is common practice to top-dress the soil under certain species of bamboo with an inch or so of red clay.
An established grove of bamboo will grow well with an annual, light application of a lawn fertilizer. Fertilizer is usually applied in February or March before shooting begins. For an established grove, irrigation is generally only necessary during droughts. More vigorous growth can be attained by following the same fertilizer and irrigation program that is locally recommended for Bermuda grass.
Bamboo rarely flowers, sometimes only once every hundred years or so. The reluctance of bamboo to flower and set seed has kept exotic bamboos from becoming the same sort of ecological monster as have kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, and privet.
When bamboo does flower, it can be very detrimental to the plant. In some species, flowering quickly leads to the death of the plant. However, the flowering process can often be halted by heavy application of lawn fertilizer, followed by ample irrigation. This should be done at the first sign of flowering. Bamboo flowers are small, grass-like, and appear in the mid-spring.
Because bamboo flowers so rarely, it is usually propagated by division. The best time to transplant most bamboos is in the early spring before the new shoots appear. The larger the size of the transplant, the higher the probability of success. It is possible to transplant only the rhizomes with some success, but transplants are more likely to succeed if some of the culms are moved with transplanted rhizome. The top half of the culms should be cut off to reduce water loss. The roots of the plant should be kept moist until it can be planted in the ground.
Once the plant has been moved it should be lightly fertilized with lawn fertilizer and watered heavily for a week or two. The transplanted clump should be watered regularly during the first summer if natural rainfall is lacking.
Running bamboos have to be controlled in some fashion, or they will continue to spread. Generally speaking, the bigger the species of bamboo, the bigger the problem this will be. The only failsafe method is to surround the grove with a concrete underground barrier. The barrier should be at least three feet deep for large species, and two feet deep for other species. Some people claim it is more effective to slant the barrier upwards and away from the grove. This encourages errant rhizomes to grow over the barrier where they can be seen and removed.
Bamboo can also be controlled by mowing around the grove. However the mowed area around the grove must be fairly large for this method to be effective for the medium- or large-sized species. The rhizomes of the larger species can easily send shoots out 20 or 30 feet.
A fairly effective, but labor intensive method of controlling bamboo is simply to remove unwanted growth. This method is most effective with the smaller and less aggressive species. At least three annual prunings will be necessary. First, in winter or early spring, the oldest culms should be pruned out of the grove. This activity opens up the grove to sunlight and encourages growth inside the grove rather than outside it. This practice will also result in larger culms and a much improved appearance of the grove. Second, in March or April remove unwanted shoots before they can grow up into culms. Third, in late summer, wandering rhizomes can be pruned with a spade.
A final method of controlling bamboo is to dig up unwanted bamboo and sell it. While some species of bamboo are common in the Southeast, the less common species often sell at very high prices for even a small division.
The aggressive character of some bamboo species can be an advantage in certain landscape situations. All species of bamboo are superb soil stabilizers, and the medium- or large-sized species can make a durable, fast-growing hedge in places where few other plants would thrive.
| Large Running Bamboos: These species of bamboo commonly grow higher than 30 feet. With good culture, they are capable of attaining treelike proportions. All of these bamboos are aggressive spreaders once established. In the landscape, these bamboos are best suited as hedges or background planting for large-scale situations. These species originate from China where they grow in lowland areas around the Yangtze River valley. |
Description: A big, green running bamboo. Like all Phyllostachys species, the culms of Timber Bamboo are divided into prominent segments called internodes. In the genus Phyllostachys, two or three branches grow from most of the joints or nodes between the internodes.
Native Habitat: China. Long cultivated in Japan, where it is called "madake."
Size: Largest reported by the American Bamboo Society (ABS) for the United States is 70 feet tall with 6-inch diameter culms. A more typical size for the Southeast is 30 feet tall and 3 inches in diameter.
Cold hardiness: Leaves can be damaged below 10 degrees F, and the culms may die back below 0 degrees F. However, the rhizomes of established plants will always produce new culms the following spring.
Culture: Plant in full sun to light shade, in a reasonably well-drained soil.
Landscape use: Produces a "forest" in less than 10 years. Some of the varieties are better suited to the home landscape than the species.
Other notes: As the name implies, Timber Bamboo is one of the best producers of bamboo poles. Annual fertilization and pruning are necessary to produce high quality poles. This bamboo was distributed in the Southeast by the USDA. Once fairly common, many plants flowered and died in the 1960s.
Varieties and related species: This species has a number of clones which are smaller-growing and more suitable for residential landscapes than the species. The most common of these is "Castillon" which has golden culms striped with green. The largest size reported for Castillon is 35 feet high with 2-inch diameter culms.
Description: One of the world's beautiful bamboos. Culms are large, bluish green in color, and have a fuzzy texture. The distinctive internodes are very short near the ground, then lengthen to a foot or more higher up the culm. The leaves are smaller than those of many other bamboos and present a pleasant contrast to the massive culms.
Native Habitat: China. Long cultivated in Japan. "Moso" is the Japanese name.
Size: Largest size reported by the American Bamboo Society (ABS) for the United States is 75 feet tall with 7-inch diameter culms. A more typical size for the Southeast is 30 feet tall and 3 or 4 inches in diameter.
Cold hardiness: Hardy to about 0 degrees F, reliable in Zone 8 and most of Zone 7.
Culture: Plant in full sun or light shade. Moso is somewhat more difficult to establish than are other bamboos. Some claim that it is helpful to start with a large division. Rhizome divisions are generally unsuccessful. Moso has a strong preference for well-drained, red clay soils.
Landscape use: A mature grove of moso resembles a miniature redwood forest.
Other notes: One of the most widely grown bamboos in China, where it is grown for timber and especially for its mild, edible spring shoots. Deer, rabbits, and other animals are attracted to these shoots and can sometimes cause problems with establishment. This bamboo is rare in the Southeast and expensive.
Varieties and related species: None.
Description: The culms resemble Japanese Timber Bamboo, but are a distinctive grayish-green in color.
Native Habitat: China. Also cultivated in Japan.
Size: Largest size reported for the United States is 65 feet tall with 4 inch diameter culms. A more typical size for the Southeast is 30 feet tall and 3 inches in diameter.
Cold hardiness: Hardy to about 0 degrees F.
Culture: Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil.
Landscape use: Similar to other large bamboos. More resistant to damage from ice and snow than other large bamboos.
Other notes: One of the most common bamboos in the Southeast. Divisions can often be had free for the digging from local groves (check with the landowner first).
Varieties and related species: See "Black Bamboo" below.
Description: Looks exactly like Japanese Timber Bamboo (see above).
Native Habitat: China.
Size: Largest size reported for the United States is 70 feet tall with 5 inch diameter culms.
Cold hardiness: The hardiest large bamboo, hardy to about -5 degrees F when established. Vivax is the most reliably evergreen large bamboo in the colder parts of Zone 7.
Culture: Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil.
Landscape use: Similar to other large bamboos.
Other notes: Vivax bamboo is rare in the Southeast and is fairly expensive.
Varieties and related species: None.
| Medium-Sized Running Bamboos: These species usually grow from 10 to 30 feet high. Some species are aggressive spreaders, while others spread slowly. The less aggressive species are better suited to residential landscapes. |
Description: A grasslike bamboo with short side branches and small leaves. Commonly seen along rivers, creeks, and low-lying areas throughout the Southeast. Its leaves often lack stalks (petioles) and the leaves are often deciduous in winter, especially in Zone 7.
Native Habitat: Grows from Maryland west to Missouri and south to Florida and Texas. Especially abundant in the Mississippi valley.
Size: There are two varieties of river cane. The most commonly seen variety is "switch cane" or subspecies tecta which rarely grows over 5 feet. However the larger variety gigantea can grow to 20 feet or more, with culms growing to about one inch in diameter. Before European settlement, some stands of cane grew to a much larger size. William Bartram mentions one grove on the Tombigbee River with culms 30 to 40 feet high and 3 or 4 inches in diameter.
Cold hardiness: Hardy to at least -10 degrees F. Plants from inland locations may be hardier than plants from coastal areas.
Culture: Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil.
Landscape use: Cane is a coarse plant that is probably most at home in naturalistic landscapes. A good plant for controlling erosion along stream banks. A much more attractive plant than its common exotic competitor, Chinese privet.
Other notes: The only bamboo native to North America, river cane was once grew abundantly in "canebrakes" throughout the Southeast. A good portion of the Southeast's best agricultural land was formerly occupied by canebrakes. This species is rarely available in commerce and usually has to be obtained by division of native stands.
Varieties and related species: None.
Description: A medium-sized green bamboo with small leaves and culms divided into prominent internodes (segments). The internodes near the ground are very short and fit nicely into the human hand, making this bamboo the first choice for fishing poles, walking sticks and the like. When planted in full sun, the culms bleach out to an attractive golden color.
Native Habitat: Yangtze River valley, China. Very commonly planted in the Southeast, the most common exotic bamboo. To many people in the Southeast, the term "bamboo" is synonymous with this species.
Size: Can grow to 27 feet with culms almost two inches in diameter. Typical size in the Southeast is 15-20 feet with 1-inch diameter culms. This bamboo is an incredibly aggressive spreader in the Southeast.
Cold hardiness: Hardy to about 0 degrees F.
Culture: Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil.
Landscape use: An excellent choice for erosion control, quick screening, or tough situations, but generally a poor choice for residential landscapes.
Other notes: The vigor of this species should not be underestimated. I know of one location near Decatur, Ga., where a steep slope next to a railroad track is being supported by a planting of Golden Bamboo. Hundreds of tons of freight pass over this track daily, with no observable effect on the bamboo and no evidence of erosion on the slope. Some European and West Coast bamboo enthusiasts have described this species as non-aggressive. This is not true in the Southeast, however.
Varieties and related species: There is a rare variety with white-striped leaves, P. aurea albovariegata, which may prove less rampant than the species.
Description: A medium-sized green bamboo with culms divided into prominent internodes (segments). On one side of each internode there is s prominent yellow groove. Culms are occasionally kinked near the base.
Native Habitat: Yangtze River valley, China.
Size: Can grow to 25 feet with culms almost two inches in diameter. Typical size in the Southeast is 15-20 feet with one-inch diameter culms. This bamboo is not quite as aggressive as Golden Bamboo, but is a vigorous spreader once established.
Cold hardiness: Established plants are hardy to about -10 degrees F. One of the hardiest Phyllostachys; grows wells as far north as Massachusetts.
Culture: Plant in full sun to light shade in a well-drained soil.
Landscape use: Like Golden Bamboo, a tough plant for tough situations. Cold-hardiness makes it the bamboo of choice in colder areas.
Other notes: Widely planted throughout the Southeast.
Varieties and related species: There is a variety, P. aureosulcata spectabilis, with yellow culms and green stripes in a pattern that is just the opposite of the species.
Description: A medium-sized bamboo with segmented culms that are green at first, and then turn black by the end of the first summer. The foliage of Black Bamboo is not nearly as dense as that of other bamboos in the genus Phyllostachys.
Native Habitat: Yangtze River valley, China. Actually a variety of Henon Bamboo (see above). For reasons only understood by botanists, in botanical nomenclature Black Bamboo is designated as the species and Henon Bamboo as a variety.
Size: Can grow to 40 feet with culms almost 2 inches in diameter. Typical size in the Southeast is 15-20 feet with 1-inch diameter culms. One of the least aggressive running bamboos.
Cold hardiness: Hardy to about 0 degrees F.
Culture: Plant in light to medium shade in a well-drained soil. Will grow in full sun with irrigation and good care. Grows slowly in deep shade.
Landscape use: Probably the best Phyllostachys for residential landscapes and refined situations. Makes a (relatively) easily controlled, translucent hedge or background.
Other notes: Fairly common throughout the Southeast, though usually somewhat expensive. Some clones of Black Bamboo have better black color than others. The "Hale" clone is highly valued for the consistency of its coloration, its smaller size, and its cold hardiness.
Varieties and related species: There are about 40 Phyllostachys bamboos native to China, and most of these are commercially available in the United States. The majority of the Phyllostachys species resemble Golden Bamboo in appearance.
Description: A medium-size bamboo with narrow (less that one inch diameter), culms and fairly large leaves, up to 2 inches wide by a foot long.
Native Habitat: Warmer areas of Japan and Korea.
Size: Grows up to 18 feet tall; 12 feet is more typical.
Cold hardiness: Hardy to about 0 degrees F.
Culture: Best in light shade, but adaptable. Grows better in deep shade than any of the Phyllostachys species.
Landscape use: One of the least aggressive running bamboos, though it can become aggressive if not controlled. New transplants initially form a clump of tightly spaced culms. In the second or third year after transplanting, the plant will start to send out longer rhizomes. A good, inexpensive plant for hedges or for erosion control in shady situations. Adapts well to pot culture.
Other notes: Very common throughout the Southeast and possibly naturalized in some locations. Occasionally confused with the native Arundinaria gigantea. In its native regions, the culms of Arrow Bamboo were once used as arrow shafts.
Varieties and related species: There is a variegated clone "Akebono-suji," and a variety with swollen culms, known as "green onion bamboo," or P.j. tsutsumiana.
Description: A medium-size bamboo with distinctive, upright culms and short side branches. Mature culms turn a purplish brown on the species, but remain green on the variety S.f. viridis.
Native Habitat: Central and southern Japan.
Size: Grows up to 30 feet tall with culms over 1 inch in diameter; 15 feet by 1 inch is more typical.
Cold hardiness: Hardy to about -5 degrees F.
Culture: Plant in full sun or light shade in well-drained soil.
Landscape use: Similar to that of the medium-sized Phyllostachys species. Because of its straight culms and narrow branches, a grove of Narihira Bamboo has a more formal appearance than a grove of the plumelike Phyllostachys.
Other notes: Rarely found in the Southeast, but grows well throughout the region.
Varieties and related species: A Chinese species, Arundinaria amabilis or "Tonkin Cane," is similar in appearance but larger in all respects. Tonkin Cane grows to 50 feet tall and over 2 inches in diameter. The culms of Tonkin Cane are of very high quality and were widely used for fishing poles, ski poles, etc., in the pre-plastic era. Tonkin Cane is not reliably cold-hardy in Zone 7 but performs well in Zone 8.
| Dwarf Running Bamboos: These bamboo species have a mature height of less than 10 feet. They are primarily useful as groundcovers in shady areas. Because of their dense growth and small size, it is difficult to selectively thin most dwarf bamboos. A more reasonable approach to grooming most dwarf bamboos is to cut the bamboo to the ground in the early spring with a lawn mower or a string trimmer. The mowing should be done before shooting begins to avoid damaging the new foliage. |
Description: A low-growing bamboo with extremely large leaves, up to 2 feet long by 4 inches wide. Culms tend to be upright and 3-4 leaves grow almost at a right angle to the culm or its branches. Has possibly the largest leaves of any bamboo.
Native Habitat: Mountainous areas around the Yangtze valley in China.
Size: Usually less than 4 feet high.
Cold hardiness: One of the hardiest bamboos, root-hardy to at least -10 degrees F. Some leaf damage can occur below 5 degrees F.
Culture: Must have medium to fairly deep shade in the summer. Grows best in cool, moist situations that are protected from winter winds. Unlike most dwarf bamboos, looks best with hand thinning or mowing every few years.
Landscape use: A mature grove of Tessellatus can take on an almost palm like appearance. It can make a nice specimen if the rhizomes are contained, otherwise use as a groundcover.
Other notes: Still fairly rare and expensive to obtain.
Varieties and related species: Indocalamus latifolius (no common name) is similar, but with slightly smaller leaves and a more upright growth habit.
Description: A dwarf bamboo with narrow, semi-evergreen leaves about two inches long. Resembles a coarse, shade-tolerant grass.
Native Habitat: Central and southern Japan.
Size: Usually less than two feet high in cultivation.
Cold hardiness: Root-hardy to about 0 degrees F. Starts to shed leaves with the first hard frost and is completely top-killed at around 10 degrees F.
Culture: Best in medium to light shade. Can be made into a shade-tolerant lawn by repeatedly mowing with the mower raised to 4 inches or higher.
Landscape use: What Pygmy Bamboo lacks in size, it makes up for in ferocity. Best use is as a robust ground cover or as an erosion control measure.
Other notes: Commonly available and inexpensive. Sometimes sold as Sasa or Arundinaria pygmea.
Varieties and related species: Pleioblastus distichus is similar, but even smaller.
Description: A dwarf bamboo having narrow leaves (usually less than 5 inches long by 1/2 inch wide) with delicate white variegation. Leaves are often almost a pure white with a few green bands.
Native Habitat: Central and southern Japan.
Size: Usually less than 2 feet high, can grow to 4 feet.
Cold hardiness: Root-hardy to 0 degrees F or lower. Leaves are evergreen to about 10 degrees F.
Culture: Best in medium to light shade. Mow annually for best appearance.
Landscape use: An attractive groundcover for light to medium shade.
Other notes: Much less rampant than Pygmy Bamboo; a refined material that merits wider use. Has lately become available in retail nurseries.
Varieties and related species: There are apparently dozens of similar dwarf, variegated bamboos under cultivation in Japan. More and more of these are being imported into the United States and should become more widely available in the near future.
Description: A dwarf bamboo having narrow leaves (up to 7 inches long by 1/2 inch wide) with brilliant golden variegation in the spring, fading to a uniform green by mid-summer.
Native Habitat: Warmer areas of Japan.
Size: Usually less than two feet high, can grow to 4 feet.
Cold hardiness: Root-hardy to 0 degrees F or lower. Leaves are evergreen to about 10 degrees F.
Culture: Best spring color in light shade. Mow annually for best appearance.
Landscape use: An attractive groundcover for light shade.
Other notes: Somewhat faster growing than Dwarf Whitestripe; a good seasonal accent. Has lately become available in retail nurseries.
Varieties and related species: A variety, Pl. v. chrysophyllus, has leaves that flush a solid yellow color in the spring, without the stripes.
Description: A low-growing bamboo with large leaves (up to 14 inches long by 3 inches wide). Leaves are arranged in clusters of 5 to 9 at the end of each culm, giving a palm like or "palmate" effect.
Native Habitat: Cold forests in northern Japan and also on Sakhalin Island. In its native habitat, Palmata Bamboo is buried under snow for much of the winter.
Size: Usually under 4 feet in the Southeast; can grow to 7 feet in cooler climates.
Cold hardiness: Root-hardy to -5 degrees F or lower.
Culture: Palmata Bamboo is better adapted to climates with cooler summers than the Southeast. Site in full shade and mow annually for best appearance.
Landscape use: An attractive groundcover for shady, moist areas in Zone 7. Tessellatus Bamboo is a better choice for Zone 8.
Other notes: Palmata may be somewhat slow to establish in our area, but can eventually become invasive. In cooler climates, Sasa species can be extremely invasive, but they seem to be less rampant in the Southeast.
Varieties and related species: There is a related species, Sasa kurilensis, which is very similar. The clone "Shimifuri" has white variegation in a pattern that resembles Dwarf Whitestripe Bamboo.
Description: A low-growing bamboo with large leaves that resemble Palmata Bamboo in the summer, but are slightly smaller in size. During the winter, the edges of the leaves turn a tan color, giving the appearance of variegation.
Native Habitat: Central and southern Japan.
Size: Usually under 2 feet in the Southeast; can grow to 5 feet in cooler climates.
Cold-hardiness: Root-hardy to -5 degrees F and probably lower.
Culture: Kumazasa is better adapted to climates with cooler summers than the Southeast. Site in full shade and mow annually for best appearance. Can be slow to establish.
Landscape use: The winter appearance of this plant is unique. The annual appearance of Kumazasa's winter variegation creates a nice seasonal accent at a time of year when such accents are sorely needed.
Other notes: Widely planted in Japanese gardens. Rare and often expensive though increasingly available.
Varieties and related species: None.
Description: A dwarf bamboo having narrow leaves (up to 6 inches long and 1 inch wide) with extremely variable off-white variegation. Some leaves are completely lacking chlorophyll, others are almost pure green, and every sort of variation occurs between these two extremes. Can be distinguished from Dwarf Whitestripe Bamboo by its broader leaves, off-white color, and unusual variegation.
Native Habitat: Central Japan.
Size: Usually under 2 feet in the Southeast.
Cold hardiness: Root-hardy to 0 degrees F and probably lower.
Culture: Site in light to medium shade; a stronger grower than Dwarf Whitestripe.
Landscape use: An attractive groundcover for shade. Unique foliage.
Other notes: It is unfortunate that such a beautiful plant has such a difficult scientific name and no common name in English. Bamboo nurseryman Steve Ray sells this bamboo under the name "Sam" which seems as good as any.
Varieties and related species: None.
| Clumping Bamboos: These bamboos spread very slowly. They can be used for hedges and backgrounds, but they also make nice specimen or accent plants. |
Description: A medium-size bamboo with a very dense growth habit. Culms grow very close to one another and numerous branches sprout from each node (joint) on the culms. Culms are green on the species but yellow on some varieties.
Native Habitat: Southern China and Taiwan.
Size: Can grow more than 30 feet, though 15 feet is average. Culms are usually about 1 inch in diameter.
Cold hardiness: Root-hardy to about 0 degrees F. Leaves start to drop at about 15 degrees F and culms are killed to the ground if temperatures go much below 10 degrees F. Best adapted to Zone 8. Can be grown in sheltered locations in Zone 7, but there its late shooting habit can mean that frost-damaged plants will be leafless until the following July.
Culture: Plant in full sun or light shade. Hedge bamboo also appreciates a site that is sheltered from winter winds, even in coastal areas of Zone 8. When pruning, remember that new culms often emerge in the summer or fall of one year and don't put out leaves or branches until the next year.
Landscape use: Perhaps the most versatile landscape bamboo for Zone 8. Makes a beautiful specimen plant or an opaque hedge. Can be pruned into a formal hedge by pruning off the tops of the culms.
Other notes: Widely planted in the warmer parts of Zone 8 and throughout Florida.
Varieties and related species: There are many horticultural varieties of this wonderful plant. The most common is "Alphonse Karr" which resembles the species but is slower-growing and has yellow culms with occasional green stripes. There are also quite a few dwarf varieties, the most common of which is the "Chinese Goddess Bamboo" or B. multiplex rivierorum. Chinese Goddess Bamboo grows to about 6 feet tall with delicate-looking culms and leaves. The clone "Tiny Fern" is even smaller, growing only to about 3 feet.
Description: A delicate-looking, small to medium-size bamboo with small leaves and purplish culms that grow in a "loose" or open clump. Numerous branches grow from each node, and the light, open character of its foliage gives a "fountain" effect.
Native Habitat: Cold mountain forests of southwestern China, mostly at elevations above 3,000 feet. Common food plant of the Giant Panda. E.H. Wilson (1929) was disappointed to find the summit of Mt. Emei covered with Fountain Bamboo.
Size: Usually less than 10 feet, with culms no more than 1/2 inch in diameter.
Cold-hardiness: Very cold-hardy, to -10 degrees F or below. However some leaves will drop in cold winters.
Culture: Fountain Bamboo is a slow-growing, cold climate plant requires some extra attention in the Southeast. For best results select a site that receives some morning sun in the summer, but is well-shaded during the afternoon. A good rule of thumb is to consider whether a site is suitable for growing rhododendrons. If not, then fountain bamboo would probably not be suitable. Prune lightly, if at all. New culms emerge in the summer or fall on one year and don't put out leaves or branches until the next year.
Landscape use: An elegant specimen and a natural companion plant for rhododendrons, mountain laurel, and similar broadleaf evergreens.
Other notes: Difficult to grow in Zone 8, where the dwarf forms of Bambusa multiplex would be a better choice. Commonly planted in the Pacific Northwest, coastal areas of the Northeast, and in the British Isles. Its slow growth rate and high demand make Fountain Bamboo an expensive plant material.
Varieties and related species: Fargesia murielae or "Umbrella Bamboo" is quite similar, the main difference being that its culms are green.