P ANGUSTA

15' height, Sun, 0 degrees F Minimum, Runner. Sometimes called Stone Bamboo or Sah chu. Produces very hard wood, used to manufacture fine furniture, also edible & said to produce small mild-flavored shoots.
David Andrews in Maryland reports leaves damaged at 0 degrees F. & all leaves dead with minor rhizome damage at -8 degrees F.

Eldon Neal in Wyoming, Illinois planted a rhizome in 1986 which by 1989 had spread to 6' wide. Every summer it grows up to less than 6' tall & then dies back to the ground in his -25 degree F. winters.

Jean Harrington in St. Pete, Florida says it will grow for her in shade but doesn't like the heat.

Al Adelman in Westford, Mass reported that in winter of 2002 Small plantings of P. angusta were killed to the ground. The lowest temp was about -8F with abundant snow cover.

Hermine - "So few of us devote time to nibbling on Bamboo shoots or manufacturing furniture, fine or otherwise these days, the real reason for growing it is for the visual treat of straight, supple, strong culms & general good humor." We have found single node rhizome cuttings may be forced to produce foliage in a greenhouse in spring & 50% of the cuttings will survive if then planted outdoors.