CHUSQUEA CORONALIS

  Solana Beach     Tustin

 

Probable height in Southern California within 3 years = 6'

Probable ultimate height in Southern California = 10'

Height in habitat = 23'

Loses leaves around 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

Loses canes around 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dies around 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

If growing in the ground it will look best in sun with some shade.

A clumping bamboo - rhizomes will not run sideways.

Minimum soil depth required for a healthy plant = 1'

Unrestrained rhizome depth in moist soil = 2'

 

        Exotic plant from Mexico to Costa Rica with 3/4" culms that arch to the ground.  Slender branchlets grow in whorls around the culm nodes with pom-pom-like bunches of very small light green leaves. Many people regard this as the most beautiful bamboo in the world, & many average home-owners who know nothing about bamboo but who accidentally show up at a Bamboo sale will invariably end up standing in front of this plant, asking how much it is & insisting they must have it.

 

        Growing well in shade at Gary Stinson's place in Menifee, California where it gets down to freezing regularly in the winter. Jean Harrington in St. Pete, Florida says the plant does not tolerate her sun & heat at all.  Excellent tub plant if kept moist & warm if not hot, touchy & tropical but totally unique.  A novice probably would not identify it as a bamboo at all.

 

        A pot sold at the Caribbean chapter of ABS in April of '88 for $175. A pot sold at the NCCABS auction in '88 for $145. A pot sold at the ABS auction in '88 for $165. A 3 gallon pot sold at the '90 ABS sale for $65. A few 2-5 gallon pots were sold at the fall '91 SCABS sale for $35-55.  A 15" pot sold at the fall '95 SCABS sale for $100.