Bamboo Species Descriptions
Key:
Botanical name (common name(s)) Minimum cold temperature (corresponding zone), range of mature heights dependent on site conditions, maximum diameter of mature culms, sunlight preference
F - Full Sun: 6+ hours sun
P - Partial Sun/Partial Shade: 3-6 hours sun
S - Full Shade: 0-3 hours
dia - max diameter of mature culm
Note: We've listed the general lighting conditions where each bamboo species will thrive, but often they can grow in other lighting conditions. Not all shade is created equal. Many of these bamboo can survive in dappled light, depending on the intensity and duration, even though there is no direct sun time. Also, newly installed plants (especially smaller pot sizes) placed in harsh situations (all day sun, exposure to high winds such as the middle of a field, etc.) are more likely to suffer summer and/or winter damage than those planted close to plants and buildings that provide some shelter from the elements.
Indocalamus tessellatus (Giant Leaf Bamboo) -5F (zone 6+), 5'-10' high, .5" dia, S, P
With leaves up to two feet long, has largest leaf of any bamboo in cultivation. You'll find these dried and sold in Asian market used to make "bamboo rice" - a sticky rice wrapped in the leaf. Very striking and tropical looking, these combine well with other bamboos to offer variation in size and texture.
Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo AKA Fishpole Bamboo)
This common bamboo is easily distinguished by its compressed lower nodes, giving it a very distinguished look and
Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow Groove Bamboo) 30'-40'
This common bamboo has usually faint (but sometimes strong) yellow stripes in the grooves (sulcus) of the bamboo and in about 30% of the culms a unique zig-zag shape toward the bottom. This is perhaps the fastest-spreading bamboo in the world.
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectabilis
A dramatic ornamental, this is the same as yellow groove except it is bright yellow with dark green sulcus.
Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Slender Crookstem' (Slender Crookstem Bamboo)
This rare bamboo is a variation on the famous Japanese Timber bamboo with it being thinner in proportion to its height that other bamboo, and also have a zig-zag shape in the lower culmns similar to Yellow Groove.
Phyllostachys edulis (Moso Bamboo)
This is the most famous of all bamboos. Almost everything you've ever seen made of bamboo, from flooring to cutting boards to chopsticks, is made from this type. It's slow to establish but can reach heights up to 70 feet in this area.
Phyllostachys dulcis (Sweetshoot Bamboo)
There is a saying that every family in China has this bamboo growing in their backyard. It is one of only two types of bamboo shoots that is free from the acrid flavor that normall requires boiling before eating.
Phyllostachys meyeri (Meyeri Bamboo) 30'-40'
This is almost exactly like Golden Bamboo except it lacks the compressed nodes. This makes it one of the best pole producers.
Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo) 20'-35'
The most sought-after ornamental, the culms of this bamboo turn black with age. Unlike other bamboo that fade to tan after they've been cut and dried, black bamboo will keep it's color. This is a great all-around bamboo and good for variable light conditions. It can take full sun to partial (and sometimes full) shade. It also does well in pots and has good edible shoots. More info
Phyllostachys nigra f. henonis (Gray Henon Bamboo)
An excellent timber bamboo that achieves size about the same as Viviax and Moso, but has better/thicker wood than Vivax and is faster growing that Moso.
Phyllostachys nuda (Nuda Bamboo)
A good all-around green bamboo that is devoid of any distinguishing characteristics.
Phyllostachys viridis 'Robert Young' (Robert Young Bamboo)
A beautiful yellow timber bamboo with green stripes and good wood quality.
Phyllostachys vivax (Vivax Bamboo, Chinese Timber Bamboo)
A fast-growing timber bamboo with excellent shoots rivaling Sweetshoot in taste and exceeding it in size. Wood quality is good but walls are thinner than other bamboos it's size.
Phyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulis (Golden Vivax AKA Yellow Vivax)
Winner of the Award of Garden Merit, this is one of the finest bamboos in the world. It retains all the qualities of normal vivax except instead of being green it is yellow with random green stripes.
Pseudosasa japonica (Arrow Bamboo, Japanese: Yadake) 5F(zone 7), 12'-18' high, 0.5" dia.
Native to Japan, where it gets it's namesake from the Samauri who used it to make their arrow shafts. This is a common bamboo with large leaves that has done very well throughout the Southeast for many decades.
Botanical name (common name(s)) Minimum cold temperature (corresponding zone), range of mature heights dependent on site conditions, maximum diameter of mature culms, sunlight preference
F - Full Sun: 6+ hours sun
P - Partial Sun/Partial Shade: 3-6 hours sun
S - Full Shade: 0-3 hours
dia - max diameter of mature culm
Note: We've listed the general lighting conditions where each bamboo species will thrive, but often they can grow in other lighting conditions. Not all shade is created equal. Many of these bamboo can survive in dappled light, depending on the intensity and duration, even though there is no direct sun time. Also, newly installed plants (especially smaller pot sizes) placed in harsh situations (all day sun, exposure to high winds such as the middle of a field, etc.) are more likely to suffer summer and/or winter damage than those planted close to plants and buildings that provide some shelter from the elements.
Indocalamus tessellatus (Giant Leaf Bamboo) -5F (zone 6+), 5'-10' high, .5" dia, S, P
With leaves up to two feet long, has largest leaf of any bamboo in cultivation. You'll find these dried and sold in Asian market used to make "bamboo rice" - a sticky rice wrapped in the leaf. Very striking and tropical looking, these combine well with other bamboos to offer variation in size and texture.
Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo AKA Fishpole Bamboo)
This common bamboo is easily distinguished by its compressed lower nodes, giving it a very distinguished look and
Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow Groove Bamboo) 30'-40'
This common bamboo has usually faint (but sometimes strong) yellow stripes in the grooves (sulcus) of the bamboo and in about 30% of the culms a unique zig-zag shape toward the bottom. This is perhaps the fastest-spreading bamboo in the world.
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectabilis
A dramatic ornamental, this is the same as yellow groove except it is bright yellow with dark green sulcus.
Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Slender Crookstem' (Slender Crookstem Bamboo)
This rare bamboo is a variation on the famous Japanese Timber bamboo with it being thinner in proportion to its height that other bamboo, and also have a zig-zag shape in the lower culmns similar to Yellow Groove.
Phyllostachys edulis (Moso Bamboo)
This is the most famous of all bamboos. Almost everything you've ever seen made of bamboo, from flooring to cutting boards to chopsticks, is made from this type. It's slow to establish but can reach heights up to 70 feet in this area.
Phyllostachys dulcis (Sweetshoot Bamboo)
There is a saying that every family in China has this bamboo growing in their backyard. It is one of only two types of bamboo shoots that is free from the acrid flavor that normall requires boiling before eating.
Phyllostachys meyeri (Meyeri Bamboo) 30'-40'
This is almost exactly like Golden Bamboo except it lacks the compressed nodes. This makes it one of the best pole producers.
Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo) 20'-35'
The most sought-after ornamental, the culms of this bamboo turn black with age. Unlike other bamboo that fade to tan after they've been cut and dried, black bamboo will keep it's color. This is a great all-around bamboo and good for variable light conditions. It can take full sun to partial (and sometimes full) shade. It also does well in pots and has good edible shoots. More info
Phyllostachys nigra f. henonis (Gray Henon Bamboo)
An excellent timber bamboo that achieves size about the same as Viviax and Moso, but has better/thicker wood than Vivax and is faster growing that Moso.
Phyllostachys nuda (Nuda Bamboo)
A good all-around green bamboo that is devoid of any distinguishing characteristics.
Phyllostachys viridis 'Robert Young' (Robert Young Bamboo)
A beautiful yellow timber bamboo with green stripes and good wood quality.
Phyllostachys vivax (Vivax Bamboo, Chinese Timber Bamboo)
A fast-growing timber bamboo with excellent shoots rivaling Sweetshoot in taste and exceeding it in size. Wood quality is good but walls are thinner than other bamboos it's size.
Phyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulis (Golden Vivax AKA Yellow Vivax)
Winner of the Award of Garden Merit, this is one of the finest bamboos in the world. It retains all the qualities of normal vivax except instead of being green it is yellow with random green stripes.
Pseudosasa japonica (Arrow Bamboo, Japanese: Yadake) 5F(zone 7), 12'-18' high, 0.5" dia.
Native to Japan, where it gets it's namesake from the Samauri who used it to make their arrow shafts. This is a common bamboo with large leaves that has done very well throughout the Southeast for many decades.