Bamboo Descriptions

Phyllostachys: Native to coastal China, this is the genus to which most of the medium and all of the large hardy bamboos belong. Several of the Phyllostachys are very hardy. Some of the hardier Phyllostachys grow in Michigan near the Great Lakes and in the Eastern United States where the ground freezes every winter. In very cold areas the tops sometimes freeze to the ground in the winter.

Phyllostachys atrovaginata
Maximum Height: 30 feet
Diameter: 2.75inches
Hardiness: -10º F
Common name: Incense Bamboo
        Formerly called Phyllostachys congesta, this bamboo is very quick growing. This is an excellent bamboo for landscaping use to do its rapid growth, relatively large diameter in relation to its height, and straight upright culms. Phyllostachys atrovaginata has an unusual characteristic in that the culms have a substance on the surface that has a fragrance somewhat like sandalwood. Like water bamboo, P. heteroclada, this species has air canals in the rhizomes and roots which are an adaptation for growing in wet soils.

Phyllostachys aurea
Maximum Height: 40 feet
Typical northwest height: 15 to 20 feet
Diameter: 1.25 inches
Hardiness: 0° F
Common names: Fishpole Bamboo, Golden Bamboo
        One of the most common bamboos in the United States. Although not very large it is also one of the strongest and most useful. Growing rigidly upright, this bamboo is one of the best for hedges and planting next to driveways and walkways. It often has a series of distorted nodes at the base that are quite ornamental and make this plant useful for craft work. Culm color of the type is green. Like other Phyllostachys, when exposed to strong direct sunlight, it will turn yellow. P. aurea is an aggressive spreader in hot climates.

Phyllostachys aurea 'Flavescens Inversa'
Maximum Height: 40 feet
Typical northwest height: 15 to 20 feet
Diameter: 1.25 inches
Hardiness: 0° F
        This form is the same as the species, except that it has a yellow sulcus. This is a form of P. aurea and is not the same as Yellow Groove Bamboo. It is a fine form to plant with the Form 'Koi' to make an interesting planting of reversed color.

Phyllostachys aurea 'Holochrysa'
Maximum Height: 40 feet
Typical northwest height: 15 to 20 feet
Diameter: 1.25 inches
Hardiness: 0° F
        This is the form of P. aurea that is truly yellow or golden. The culms are green at first, then turn yellow or golden orange in a few months with or without exposure to direct sun as required by the species. This is still a rather rare bamboo

Phyllostachys aurea 'Koi'
Maximum Height: 40 feet
Typical northwest height: 15 to 20 feet
Diameter: 1.25 inches
Hardiness: 0° F
        The culms are green at first becoming yellow with a green sulcus after a few months. Similar in color to P. bambusoides Castillonis, but with the distorted nodes at the base typical of the species. This is a real gem.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata
Maximum Height: 26 feet
Diameter: 1.5 inches
Hardiness: -15º F
Common Name: Yellow Groove Bamboo
        A hardy bamboo that has a yellow sulcus on a green culm. This is one of the hardiest bamboos. Although it has culms with abrupt kinks in the lower portion, it is rigidly upright, which makes it good to plant near a walk or driveway.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Alata'
Maximum Height: 30 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: -15º F
Common Name: Crookstem Bamboo
        This is the all-green form of Yellow Groove Bamboo. It has many culms with sharp bends near the base. This attribute gives this plant its common name. This form is larger than the species. Crookstem bamboo makes a good hedge or screen.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis'
Maximum Height: 26 feet
Diameter: 1.5 inches
Hardiness: -15º F
Common Name: Golden Crookstem
        The culms are a beautiful lemon yellow color at sheath fall. When planted where direct sun can shine on the culms from the south and the west, they acquire a bright magenta highlight for a short time in the spring. This is the hardiest bamboo that has yellow or golden culms. A real jewel, one of our most spectacular bamboos, especially in the early summer as the new culms acquire their brightest color.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Harbin Inversa'
Maximum Height: 26 feet
Diameter: 1.5 inches
Hardiness: -15º F
Common Name: 'Harbin Inversa'
        This newly discovered form is bright yellow with multiple random narrow green stripes on the culm. Like all forms of aureosulcata it has many culms with sharp bends near the base but is very erect and makes a good hedge or screen. Also like other yellow forms of Ph. aureosulcata this bamboo will turn a beautiful orange-magenta when exposed to bright sun for a period while the new culms are hardening in the early summer. Not a sport of ‘Harbin,’ this bamboo does not have the multiple vertical ridges of that plant.

Phyllostachys bambusoides
Maximum Height: 72 feet
Diameter: 6 inches
Hardiness: 5º F
Common Names: Giant Timber Bamboo, Japanese Timber Bamboo, Madake.
        Of all the temperate timber bamboos, this is by far the strongest. Although not native to Japan, Madake is the bamboo most preferred for building in that country. It is a good bamboo for places that get snow ,but do not get colder that 5º F, since it sheds snow better than other large bamboos. It is also very upright not leaning to the sun as some others do.

Phyllostachys bambusoides  Albovariegata 'European Clone'
Maximum Height: 30 feet ?
Diameter: 2 inches ?
Hardiness: 5º F
This nicely variegated form of Japanese Timber  although less highly variegated, is much more vigorous than clone 'Richard Haubrich. The ultimate size is unknown since it is new to cultivation.'

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Allgold'
Maximum Height: 35 feet
Diameter: 2 Inches
Hardiness: 5º F
Common Name: Allgold
        This is our favorite of all our yellow culm bamboos. The culms are gold at sheath fall, with an occasional green stripe. They turn a beautiful butterscotch yellow with age.

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillon'
Maximum Height: 35 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: 5º F
Common Name: Castillon
        Bright yellow at sheath fall, this is one of our most beautiful bamboos, with culms of bright golden yellow and a green stripe in the sulcus. This bamboo flowered along with Phyllostachys bambusoides in the 1960s. All the plants in the United States and Europe died. Fortunately it was saved in China and Japan, from where it was re-imported to Germany and then into the United States by the American Bamboo Society.

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillon Inversa'
Expected Height: 35 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: 5° F
        This form of Japanese timber bamboo has the reverse coloration of Castillon Inversa hence the name. Planted together, Castillon Inversa and Castillonis make a striking combination. As we have done at the Classical Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon.

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Kawadana'
Maximum Height: 35 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: 5º F
        This bamboo has two very beautiful features. The foliage is lightly striped with gold and, even more exciting, is the fine pin striping of gold on the culms. This gorgeous bamboo was found at the base of a Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillonis' that had flowered.

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Marliac'
Maximum Height: 35 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: 5º F
        This form of Giant timber bamboo is one of the most unusual. The culms are very wrinkled giving them an appearance similar to corduroy.

Phyllostachys bambusoides
'Richard Haubrich'
Maximum Height: 15 feet
Diameter: 1.25 inches
Hardiness: 5º F
Perhaps the most spectacular of all of our variegated bamboos. This form of "Giant Timber Bamboo" is also one of the slowest. We have had the plant over ten years, but have sold very few. Named for Richard Haubrich, the founding President of the American Bamboo Society. The foliage can acquire an orange tinge when grown with the correct amount of shade. This bamboo is very difficult and seldom available.

Phyllostachys decora
Maximum Height: 24 feet
Diameter: 1.5 inch
Hardiness: -5º F
Common Name: Beautiful Bamboo (China)
        This bamboo has very straight upright culms with masses of drooping foliage. It is one of the best bamboos for a tall dense screen. It also has a reputation for being tolerant of both hot-dry and cold.

Phyllostachys dulcis
Maximum Height: 40 feet
Diameter: 3 inches
Hardiness: 0°  to 5º F
Common Name: Sweet shoot bamboo
        The masses of large drooping leaves, thick culms, and a white ring at the node make this one of our most beautiful bamboos. It is perhaps our largest diameter bamboo that is not over 40 ft tall. Our largest culms have been almost 3 inches in diameter and only 30 ft. tall. It also one of the quickest growing. P. dulcis will occasionally display cream colored stripes on the culms We believe that this bamboo is hardier than the 0 F rating, perhaps, -10 F or colder. Grown in China for its tasty shoots early in the season

Phyllostachys glauca 'Yunzhu'
Maximum Height: 34 to 70 feet
Maximum Diameter: 2 to 4 inches
Hardiness: 0º F
        This bamboo spotted culm is native to the northern regions of China. This bamboo can grow in hilly areas, plains and flood lands. It can tolerate dry conditions and a slightly alkaline soil. At sheath fall the young culm has somewhat a bluish cast. The culms develop spots with age.

Phyllostachys heteroclada
Maximum Height: 20+ feet
Diameter: 1 inch
Hardiness: 0º F
Common Name: Water Bamboo
        Also called Phyllostachys purpurata, this species has been reclassified by the Chinese botanists. Water bamboo has air canals in the rhizomes and roots which allow it to grow in wet soils where other bamboos would suffer. At maturity this species has the grayest culms of our bamboos. It is very straight and tall despite its diameter of approximately 1 inch.

Phyllostachys heteroclada 'Solid stem'
Expected Maximum Height: 18 feet
Diameter: 1.25 inches
Hardiness: -5º F
        This form of Phyllostachys heteroclada has culms that are solid in the lower nodes. Like the species, this plant has beautiful gray culms. This form is also tolerant of wet soils. Recent information indicates hardiness greater than previously thought. It may be hardy below -1E5 F.

Phyllostachys iridescens
Maximum Height: 40 feet
Diameter: 2.8 inches
Hardiness: 0º F
        Phyllostachys iridescens is one of our largest and strongest bamboos.  The culm walls are very thick, and are used for timber.  Many of the canes have light green pin striping on them.  Some also have graceful bends in the lower internodes. 

Phyllostachys meyeri
Maximum Height: 33 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: 5º F
        Very similar to Golden Bamboo, without the shortened and distorted internodes. It has strong and hard culms. Sometimes sold as Golden Bamboo.

Phyllostachys nigra
Maximum Height: 40 feet
Typical Height: 25 to 30 feet
Diameter: 2+ inches
Hardiness: 5º F
Common Name: Black Bamboo
        Having jet black culms, this is our most sought after bamboo. Under ideal conditions, Black Bamboo will grow to 40 feet in height and over 2 inches in diameter. New culms emerge green and then turn black in two to three years.

Phyllostachys nigra 'Bory'
Maximum Height: 50 feet
Diameter 3 inches
Hardiness: 5º F
Common Names: Bory, Tiger Bamboo
        Tiger bamboo, as it is often called in the Orient, is one of our most beautiful bamboos. Like the other forms of P. nigra, the culms are green when they first emerge from the ground. Within months they acquire the dark blackish-brown patches that give them such a distinctive appearance.

Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon'
Maximum Height: 50 feet
Maximum Diameter: 3.5 inches
Hardiness: 0º F
Common Name: Henon
        This timber bamboo is thought to be the true species from which Black Bamboo originated. In the Pacific Northwest, it is one of the largest bamboos. There are mature stands that reach a height of 50 feet with a culm diameter of 3.5 inches. The wood of this species is stronger than P. vivax, but not as strong as P. bambusoides. It appears to be much hardier than 0º F. Henon could possibly be hardy to -10º F.

Phyllostachys nigra 'Megurochiku'
Maximum Height: 50 feet
Maximum Diameter: 3.5 Inches
Hardiness: 0º F
Common Name: Megurochiku
        This formerly very rare bamboo has large gray-green culms with a dark brown sulcus. We found this bamboo, which was reported to be growing only on a single island in Japan, growing at Kubota Gardens in Seattle Washington, in 1991. It turns out to be a fairly common bamboo in Seattle, having been used in many landscaping jobs by the Kubota family over the past few decades. It is essentially P. nigra 'Henon' with a dark sulcus.

Phyllostachys nuda
Maximum Height: 34 feet
Diameter: 1.75 inches
Hardiness: -15º F
        This is the hardiest of the Phyllostachys. It has dark green culms with a bright white ring at the nodes. The leaves are also darker than on most other bamboos. In the spring new culms that are exposed to the sun are often near-black for a few weeks as the new foliage appears.

Phyllostachys violascens
Height: 30 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: 0º F
        This bamboo is an enigma. Sometimes striped with brownish purple. Sometimes striped with gold or yellow. And, sometimes just plain green. It is a very aggressive spreader. But it appears not to be very tolerant of flooding.

Phyllostachys vivax
Maximum Height: 72 feet
Maximum Diameter: 5 inches
Hardiness: -5º F
        Phyllostachys vivax is the hardiest timber bamboo. Under ideal conditions this species can grow to over 70 feet and 5 inches in diameter. This may be the largest hardy bamboo growing in the Pacific Northwest. It has grown over 4 inches in diameter in Oregon. This Phyllostachys is the quickest to attain large size. The thin walled culms are not especially strong. Shoots from this bamboo are among the best eating.

Phyllostachys vivax 'Aureocaulis'
Maximum Height: 72 feet (estimated)
Diameter: 5 inches (estimated)
Hardiness: -5º F (estimated)
        This is possibly our most spectacular new bamboo. This majestic bamboo, with it's towering spires of golden yellow culms painted with random green stripes, is truly a sight to behold. Like other large bamboos, P. vivax 'Aureocaulis' will appreciate the sunniest location possible. Mature height will be 30 to 40 ft. (possibly larger); with an expected culm diameter of 2" to 3". Hardiness is listed at -5F.

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Hardy Clump type Bamboos:
These are the only genera of bamboos currently in cultivation that are both very hardy and clump forming rather than having a running rhizome. These bamboos make clumps that expand slowly, only a few inches a year, similar to Siberian iris. All of these bamboos except Thamnocalamus tessellatus are best suited to places protected from the hot afternoon sun. In hotter climates they may not grow at all in full sun.

Borinda albocerea
Height: 12  feet
Diameter: 0.8 inches
Hardiness: 22EF
       This bamboo exciting new bamboo from Yunnan, has new culms coated with a beautiful bluish wax. As the culms age the wax wears off they turn yellow. We are hopeful that it will prove hardier than so far reported.

Borinda angustissima
Height: 12 to 20 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inches
Hardiness: 15EF
        This bamboo was collected by Dr. James Waddick in 1989 near Wolong, Guan, Xian, Sichuan, China at approximately 4,000 feet altitude. The young plants have very small narrow leaves. Dr. Waddick says that as the plants get larger the leaves will be larger also, but so far our plants only have very small delicate leaves. Hardiness is not yet established.

Borinda fungosa
Height: 18 feet
Diameter: 0.75 inch
Hardiness: Unknown
        Borinda fungosa was introduced as seed from China in 1993 as a Fargesia. It is more vigorous than most Fargesias. The culms turn a burgundy-red when exposed to the sun. It has larger leaves than any of our Fargesias. The hardiness is uncertain, but it some plants have survived winters in the milder parts of the Pacific Northwest.

Chusquea culeou
Height: 12 to 20 feet
Diameter: 1.25 inch
Hardiness: 0E to 15EF
    From South America, mainly Chile or Argentina, this is one of our few hardy clumpers that is happy in full sunshine, at least in cooler climates. Although rated as hardy to 0° F in the American Bamboo Society, the various clones seem to be variable in hardiness. This bamboo is taller and holds it foliage and deep green color better is winter than Fargesias.

Chusquea breviglumis / gigantea
Height: 24 ft.
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: 5° F
    Very unlike the other Chusquea sold as breviglumis, this unusual Chusquea is quite different from most. Although technically a clumping bamboo, it forms a somewhat open grove of very upright culms, somewhat like a Phyllostachys. It is one of the hardiest Chusqueas in cultivation. This bamboo has recently been named Ch. gigantea by French botanist Jean Pierre Demoly.

Fargesia denudata
Height: 12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -10º F
Similar to Fargesia murielae in form and color, it has shorter branches and smaller leaves. Although less hardy than murielae it is hardy to -10° F. Like other Fargesias it is a clumping bamboo and also like them it is happier with some protection from hot afternoon sun. It is mostly suitable for areas that have cooling in nighttime hours more common in northern states, not in southern States.

Fargesia dracocephala
Height: 8 to12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -10° F
Common Name: Hardy Dragon Bamboo
        Fargesia dracocephala is a hardy clump type bamboo from the forested mountains of China. It grows at elevations from 1100 to 2230 meters, in areas inhabited by the Giant Panda, and is one of the bamboos on it's menu. It is reported in it's native habitat to grow 3 to 5 meters (9 to 16 feet) tall. Since it is a clump type bamboo, it can be planted without fear that it will rapidly spread from the area where it is planted. Fargesia dracocephala grows with a weeping habit. It forms a dense clump and can be used to make an almost solid screen if there is sufficient room for a plant with a weeping form. We have a 16 foot long screen of just four of these plants at the entrance to the nursery, and it is an absolutely solid screen. The culms (canes) are solid and makes good small garden stakes. The leaves of dracocephala do not curl in the sun or the cold, but you must protect them from too much hot afternoon sun, or they will burn.

Fargesia dracocephala 'White Dragon'
Height: 8 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -5º F
Common Name: White Dragon
        This very rare bamboo was grown from seed at our nursery. The variegation is more pronounced in the spring as the new foliage emerges.  It does sometimes tend to revert to green so some removal of green culms may be needed

Fargesia murielae
Height: 12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -20º F
Common Name: Umbrella Bamboo
        Considered by E. H. "China" Wilson, who introduced it into cultivation in 1910 to be the most beautiful of all bamboos. This species, with its delicate pea green foliage and graceful weeping habit, is the ideal bamboo to place next to a pond. This bamboo is named to honor, Muriel, China Wilson's daughter. Formerly called Arundinaria murielae and Thamnocalamus spathaceus, this bamboo is equivalent to F. nitida in being the hardiest of all bamboos. Like other Fargesias, it does not have running rhizomes and needs no containment to prevent its spread. As with all hardy bamboo, this species is evergreen, although it does spread some leaves in the fall. The leaves on F. murielae are small and thin, giving it a rather delicate look belying its hardiness. During sub-freezing weather the leaves curl until temperatures moderate. It looks best when planted out of direct sun. F. murielae began flowering in 1992. Here, at The Bamboo Garden Nursery we have been propagating from seed and are offering a new generation, which should be safe from flowering for the next 100 years.

Fargesia nitida
Height: 12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -20º F
Common Names: Fountain, Blue Fountain, and Hardy Blue Bamboo
        Similar to F. murielae, this bamboo looks best when grown in partial shade. When grown where the sun can reach the culms, they turn an attractive purplish color. This, the type form of F. nitida, is the most upright form and is a good bamboo for a hedge in an area that isn't exposed to hot midday sun during the summer months. Although nitida is as hardy as F. murielae, its appearance during the winter months is not as attractive. The canes of F. nitida make excellent garden stakes due to their strength and a very unusual trait of having branches that are easily removed by hand with out using any tools.

Fargesia nitida  New Seedlings
 Height: 12 feet
 Diameter: 0.5 inch
 Hardiness: -20º F
Common Names: Fountain, Blue Fountain, and Hardy Blue Bamboo
       These are seedlings from the first flowering of F. nitida since it's introduction in the 1880's by Messrs Veitch. The seed was collected by Russian collector Mr. Botin in North Szechwan, China. for  Dr. Regel director of the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden. Although there are a few new introductions of  F. nitida, many of the named forms are from this original seed and will most likely flower and perish in the next few years. These new seedlings should be fine for another one hundred plus years.

Fargesia nitida var. 'Anceps'
Height: Approximately 12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -20º F
        The Anceps form of Fargesia nitida has a weeping habit similar to 'Nymphenburg', but with smaller leaves. The leaves on this bamboo curl when exposed to hot sunlight. Surprisingly, in view of this, its more tolerant of heat than other forms of Fargesia nitida. This is not the bamboo known as Arundinaria anceps or Yushania anceps, which is a running bamboo and not nearly as hardy as F. nitida 'Anceps'.

Fargesia nitida 'Eisenach'
Height: Approximately 12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -20º F
        'Eisenach' grows in a vase shape with culms arching out. The leaves are smaller than the type plant. In the eastern United States this clone is supposed to be shorter than the type, but it is reported to get much taller in Europe.

Fargesia nitida 'Ems River'
Height: Approximately 12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -20º F
        This clone with culms that are more purplish and upright than other clones and leaves are smaller makes it one of the nicest.

Fargesia nitida 'McClure'
Height: Approximately 18 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -20º F
        This is the tallest of the Fargesia nitida clones. It is also a very weepy form with longer leaves than most.

Fargesia nitida 'Nymphenburg'
Height: Approximately 12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness: -20º F
        With it's long very narrow leaves and weeping habit, this is the most beautiful of the nitida clones. It would be especially beautiful next to a lake or pond.

Fargesia robusta
Maximum Height: 15 ft.
Diameter: 0.75 inch
Hardiness:  0º F
        Taller, more upright and more robust than Fargesia nitida or Fargesia murielae, this species has darker green foliage and pea green culms. It is also a little more sun tolerant than most other Fargesias.

Fargesia sp. Jiuzhaigou 1
Height: 9 to 12 feet
Diameter: 0.75 inch
Hardiness: 0° F
This new Fargesia, possibly a form of nitida is becoming known for the intense red color of the new culms. They then age to a mellow yellow. ( Remember Donavon's cool song) Unlike most other Fargesias, this plant needs to be planted where it gets enough sunshine to turn the culms red. Care must be taken though in warmer places or it will suffer though from too much of the needed sun. The leaves like many Fargesias will curl in the sun, but when the shade returns they will unfurl.

Fargesia sp. 'Rufa'
Maximum Height: 8 ft.
Diameter: 0.5 inch
Hardiness:  -15º F
       A newly discovered Fargesia with  new culms that have attractive reddish sheaths. This introduction is one of our most promising new clumping bamboos. It is a shorter Fargesia growing only about 8 feet tall. It is a quick grower though, growing many new culms each season. The new culms of this Fargesia leaf out early in the summer, making it an excellent choice, where it's rapid growth is not a problem. Like Fargesia dracocephala and Fargesia robusta its leaves do not curl in the sun, but it is hardier than either of these. Yet like all Fargesias it should be planted with some protection from the hot afternoon sun.

Fargesia sp. 'Scabrida'
Maximum Height: 12 feet
Diameter: 0.5 inches
Hardiness: -10° F
         A new Fargesia with very exciting colors: bright orange culm sheaths among steely-blue and purple culms.  It is a vigorous grower that can tolerate more sunlight than most Fargesias; similar to F. robusta and  F. sp. 'Rufa'.  Culms age to an olive green. Very rare but great potential.

Thamnocalamus tessellatus
Height: 16 feet
Diameter: 1 inch
Hardiness: 0º F
        Also a clump type bamboo, this moderately hardy bamboo is from South Africa, where it is called Bergbamboes, or mountain bamboo. It is a very unusual
 bamboo with very thick culms in relation to its height. It may be the only African bamboo hardy enough to grow in the Pacific Northwest.

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Mid-size Running Bamboos:
 

Bashania fargesii
Maximum Height: 20 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: -0° F
This bamboo has long smooth internodes. A whorl of branches are present at the node and the culm sheath is thick and glossy on the inside and covered with rust colored hairs on the lower portion of the outside. The leaves are long and broad. Bashania fargesii is a vigorous runner, even in heavy Oregon clay soil.
 

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda "Chinese Walking Stick"
Height: 20 feet
Diameter: 1.25 inches
Hardiness: 10º F
    With it’s very large disk like nodes, this bamboo is very popular for making canes and walking sticks in Sichuan by the Yi people. The name tumidissinoda is descriptive of the greatly enlarged nodes. This is a bamboo of multiple attributes. The culms with the swollen nodes being the principal attraction, it’s beautiful foliage another and it is also known for it’s delicious tasting shoots.

Pseudosasa japonica variegata
Maximum Height: 18 feet
Diameter: 1 inch
Hardiness: 0º F
        This form of Ps. japonica is quite variable with some leaves almost pure white, others green, and some beautifully variegated. It is a handsome bamboo. With its white leaves it should be a good choice for a shady place.

Pseudosasa longiligula
Maximum Height: 25 feet
Diameter: 1.8 inches
Hardiness: 0° F
Common Name: None yet
        This new bamboo not offered for sale before, is the largest and strongest of the genus, next to Ps. amabilis. And, it is reported to be considerably hardier at 0° F. It has long internodes, and the culm walls are thick and strong, making it useful for making furniture, for which it is used in China.

Pseudosasa usawai
Maximum Height: 16 feet
Diameter: 0.8 inch
Hardiness: 10º F

This bamboo seems fairly hardy here in the Pacific Northwest. It has potential as a screen plant. The long, broad leaves give Pseudosasa usawai aesthetic value. It also has long brown hairs around the margins of the culm sheaths.
 

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Smaller Running Bamboos:

Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima'
Maximum Height: 16 feet
Hardiness: 0° F
        This bamboo, with its large Sasa type leaves, is thought to be a natural hybrid. It has stunning variegated leaves. When grown in a sunny location, some leaves display shades of purple in the variegation. It usually only grows to 10 feet tall.

Indocalamus tessellatus
Height: 3 to 6 feet
Hardiness: -5º F
        Formerly called Sasa tessellata, this bamboo has the largest leaves of any bamboo in cultivation. They can grow to 24 inches long by 4 inches wide. These leaves are often used in cooking to wrap food in the same manner as banana leaves and corn husks. This species is reported to be one of the hardiest Sasa types, although its leaves can shred when exposed to excessive wind.

Pleioblastus akebono
Height: 1.5 feet
Hardiness: 10º F
        This beautiful Japanese dwarf has leaves that emerge in the spring almost pure white, and then slowly turn green. This lovely little plant rarely grows taller than a foot and should be planted in shade.

Pleioblastus distichus
Height: 2 feet
Hardiness: 0º F
Common name: Dwarf Fern leaf Bamboo
        Also called Pleioblastus pygmaeus var. distichus, this is one of the smallest bamboos. The most noticeable characteristic of this bamboo is its leaf texture.  The leaves are very tough and erect. They fan out in groups of 5 or so leaves making them look very much like little palm or fern leaves.  It is a little hardier than  Pleioblastus pygmaeus, although both are root hardy to well below zero Fahrenheit. Due to its small leaves it is also nicely suitable as a bonsai plant.

Pleioblastus viridistriatus
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Hardiness: 0° F
        Leaves that are chartreuse with green stripes make this one of the most beautiful bamboos in spring and early summer. Partially deciduous, even in mild winters, it is best mowed to the ground each spring to maintain its attractiveness.

Pleioblastus viridistriatus 'Chrysophyllus'
Height: 2 feet
Hardiness: 0° F
        Golden-chartreuse leaves without the darker green stripes of Pl. viridistriatus; otherwise it is the same. This beautiful bamboo is a wonderful plant to brighten a shady spot.

Sasa kurilensis small leaf form
Height: 6 feet
Hardiness: 0º F
        This form is finally getting taller and may eventually get 6 ft. or taller, it has smaller leaves than the typical form.

Sasa kurilensis simofuri
Height: 6 feet
Hardiness: 0º F
        This beautiful variegated clone is best grown in partial shade because the finely white-striped leaves are subject to burning by the sun. Leaves are 10 inches long by 2 inches wide.

Sasa veitchii
Height: 2 to 5 feet
Hardiness: 0º F
        Our most sought after Sasa, this species is known for leaves that turn cream colored at the margins in winter. Sasa veitchii will grow to between 3 and 4 feet when left alone, but it can be kept shorter by cutting it to the ground after it's spring flush of growth.

Sasa Palmata:
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Hardiness: 5º F
        One of the tallest Sasas. Leaves are 2 to 4 inches wide and up to 14 inches long.

Sasaella masamuneana 'Albostriata'
Maximum Height: 2 to 6 feet
Hardiness: 0º F
        The leaves are beautifully variegated with white or cream colored striping in the spring. Toward the end of summer, the new growth is mostly green. This plant, like many small bamboos, should be cut to the ground in the spring. This keeps the plant shorter and disposes of old leaves and dead material. This is very important for this species because the new growth comes up strikingly variegated.

Sasaella ramosa
Height: 1.5 to 3 feet
Hardiness: 0º F
        This is one of our shortest growing bamboos, usually only about 1.5 feet tall. This species is an excellent groundcover as it is drought resistant and hardy. A very aggressive spreader when given adequate water, so it should be used in the landscape with care. The leaves often get dry, manila colored edges in mild winters similar to Sasa veitchii, but its leaves are smaller and thinner.

Sasamorpha borealis
Maximum Height: 6 feet
Diameter: 0.3 inches
Hardiness: -10º F
        A very cold hardy bamboo native to Hokkaido, Japan.

Shibataea chinensis
Height: 2 feet
Hardiness: -5º F
        This recently introduced species, although similar to S. kumasaca, does not grow as tall and may possibly be more hardy. It also is more tolerant of alkaline conditions.

Shibataea kumasaca
Height: 7 feet
Hardiness: -5º F
        An unusual dwarf with dark green leaves. The Shibataeas are more closely related to the genus Phyllostachys than other small bamboo. An excellent tall groundcover or short hedge, this species is especially suited to climates similar to that in the Pacific Northwest. The bamboo does not do well in alkaline soil or water. It needs acidic conditions to prevent leaf burn. Very resistant to bamboo mites.

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Subtropical Bamboos:

Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'
Maximum Height: 35 feet
Container Height: 15 to 20 feet
Diameter: 1.5 inches
Hardiness: 12º F
Common Name: Alphonse Karr
        The culms on this bamboo are golden and green striped. The golden color takes on a magenta cast when exposed to bright sunlight. This bamboo makes a wonderful container plant. Like other forms of Bambusa multiplex are among the best bamboos for the interior.

Chusquea coronalis
Maximum Height: 23 feet
Diameter: 7 inches
Hardiness: 25º F
        A beautiful weeping bamboo with tiny leaves on branches that circle the culms. This is the most delicate looking of all bamboos, with it's masses of tiny leaves. For warm areas or indoor use only.

Himalayacalamus falconerii 'Damarapa'
Maximum Height: 30  feet
Diameter: 2 inches
Hardiness: 15º F
Common name: Candy Cane Bamboo
          One of our most beautiful bamboos, but too tender for most of the US. When grown well with plenty of bright light and cool but not significantly below freezing, the colors can be spectacular. It very rarely reaches 30 ft tall, more often it gets 10 to 20 ft if conditions are good. Best grown in cool Pacific coastal climate. It can be grown as a container plant and moved in or out depending on the weather, but it is intolerant of the low humidity found in most homes where it can lose up to half of its foliage.  It is far happier in cool frost free conservatories for the winter months.

Otatea acuminata aztecorum
Maximum Height: 20 feet
Hardiness: 22º F
Common Name: Mexican Weeping
        This lovely bamboo has long and very slender leaves. It can be kept in a pot as an interior plant. We don't recommend this bamboo in regions with significant frost.

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