Oggie the bamboo dog in a stand of moso, Portland, OR  2002
 Photo copyright: Ned Jaquith, 2003

Phyllostachys edulis
Common Name: Moso
Also called:
Phyllostachys heterocycla  pubescens

Maximum Height: 80 feet, Typical Height: 40 to 50 feet
Diameter: 4 to 7 inches
Hardiness: 0
° F
USDA Zone recommended 7 through 10

This is the largest of the hardy bamboos and one of the most beautiful. The very large culms are festooned with masses of the smallest leaves in the Phyllostachys genus, making this large bamboo look even larger. The culms of a mature plant are very broad at the base and quite tapered. A culm 6 inches in diameter at breast height may be 8 or more inches in diameter at the base. New culms are covered with a soft velvety pubescence. Our common name Moso, is the Japanese name which is a corruption of the Chinese name Mao Zhu. Mao for hairy and Zhu which means bamboo. There is no mistaking this bamboo for any other. A mature Moso grove is a spectacular site. From a distance the groves have a light  feathery look. When a grove is properly maintained, one can stroll among the large culms as if they were in a mature conifer forest. In a mature grove the foliage begins 30 to 40 feet above the base. Phyllostachys bambusoides is the bamboo of choice for basket weaving in Japan because of  its flexibility. Moso, on the other hand, is unsuitable for fine basketry because it is so stiff.  It is used for many utilitarian things such as utensils, tubing, construction reinforcements, etc. In the West it may be used for ornamental construction.  Moso shoots are the most commonly eaten shoots and consist of the majority of the bamboo shoot export from China. It shoots early, and shoots can even be dug in the winter, when no others are available. Moso does not mature quickly in cooler climates, and it is finally attaining some size in our yard (see the picture with Oggie). We are transplanting large plants to our rural site 25 miles west of Portland in hopes of having a real bamboo forest. Our largest plants are now about 40 ft tall and over 3 inches in diameter at breast height. A couple are 4 inches thick at the base. We are also growing several distinctive clones with different color variations, of which we have a few starts.  Moso shoots usually begin to appear in early March in Portland, OR.

Small plants of Moso (the size we ship) usually have  large juvenile leaves, quite unlike the very small leaves of the larger, more established plants.


Moso opposite the office at Bamboo Garden
Photo copyright: Dain Sansome, 2006


Bamboo Society members in the Moso at Prafrance
Photo copyright: Ned Jaquith, 1998


 

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 Anika between Moso Shoots at   Eberts' Bambus Italia
  Photo copyright: Wolfgang Ebert, 1998 
The Bamboo Garden installing Moso at the Chinese Garden in Portland, OR.
Photo copyright: Ned Jaquith, 1999