BAMBUSA LAKO (Timor Black Bamboo)

  photo by Jim Wertz in Australia    five year growth by Bob Dimattia in Vista

two year growth by Robert Saporito in Florida   closeup of canes by Robert Saporito 

        Highly prized plant by collectors because of the large diameter black canes on a clumping plant.  Seems to do well in humid areas near the ocean in Southern California.   When we grew it in Tustin in the 80's it was impressive and attractive but lost a lot of leaves in the winter. 

        Roy Rogers has a dozen large pots in Florida which he makes divisions from and one of them has been flowering for a couple of years without dying.  He finds no seeds or seedlings.  And the divisions he takes off the flowering plant do not flower.