P. angusta has very straight, strong culms and is one of the shortest of the Phyllostachys genus. The new shoots have distinct cream colored culm sheaths, with mysterious dark spots that seem hard to focus on. It is called Stone Bamboo because of its inherent toughness and hard texture of the culms which in China are used to make bamboo furniture. For us, it has been one of the best bamboos for staying upright in the snow. Last year (2008) it was flattened by 2 feet of snow, but has popped right back up.
