PHYLLOSTACHYS AUREA (Golden Bamboo)
 
 Specimens in ground   
 
To see a list of landscape projects including golden bamboo in Southern  California click here
   
Probable height in Southern California within 3 years = 15'
Probable ultimate height in Southern California = 20'
Height in habitat = 27'
Loses leaves around 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Loses canes around -5 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dies around -40 to -35 degrees Fahrenheit.
Looks best with a mixture of sun and shade.
Will run in moist earth unless restrained with a root barrier.
Minimum soil depth required for a healthy plant = 6"
Unrestrained rhizome depth in moist soil = 2'
 
            Golden Bamboo is the most widely grown bamboo in the U.S. - usually spreads quickly if not controlled.  However, one occasionally finds an isolated plant which does not run & instead forms a nice tight clump.  In England & Germany this seems to be the typical form of growth.  The dense, vertical bright-green foliage is outstanding for screens & hedging if the rhizomes are controlled with concrete barriers in the ground. Without concrete barriers it can become a dangerous annoyance that can penetrate any moist soil surrounding it and cause anger, frustration and threats of lawsuits by your neighbors.   Can be kept at any height or width - one foot up to full height by trimming once a year in the summer - a 2' wide by 20' high partially transparent hedge if you like.
 
            Easy identification by examining the base of the canes - many are deformed, shortened, swollen with either a zigzag or horizontal tortoise-shell pattern of joints.  Culm sheaths are light green, combed with fine pattern of purple-brown stripes & tipped with narrow 2-3" long leaves.  Sheaths are yellow with a green center stripe & white edges when the culm first comes out of the ground, but then slowly turn green & brown.  No hairs on culm tips, unlike P. nigra species.  Has mild-flavored edible shoots,  mature culms make strong, hard walking sticks, umbrella handles, fan handles, pipe stems, fishing rods, furniture and handicrafts.
            Originally from China, long cultivated in Japan, introduced into the U.S. from Japan before  1870.
            Plants in the ground survived -25 degrees F. European low in 1984, many being only one year-old! 
            David Andrews in Maryland reports minor leaf damage at 9 degrees F., minor culm & rhizome damage at 5 degrees & major rhizome damage at 0 degrees F.
            Eldon Neal in Wyoming, Illinois,  has not had as good luck.  He planted a rhizome in 1986 & though the plant was still alive in 1990, it only gets about 1' tall every summer.  His winters regularly get to below -25 degrees F.      
            Pryse Duerfeldt in Negaunee, Michigan had a plant that got -30 degrees F. every winter & some below freezing temperatures every month of the year!   It varied in height of summer growth from 1-5', depending on how long the growing season is that year.  
            Jean Harrington's plant thrives in St. Pete, Florida in the shade.