PHYLLOSTACHYS BAMBUSOIDES CASTILLONIS

 

  Mature plants in Japan 

 

Probable height in Southern California within 3 years = 15'

Probable ultimate height in Southern California = 25'

Height in habitat = 35'

Loses leaves around 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Loses canes around 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dies around -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

If growing in the ground it prefers to grow in full sun.

A running bamboo - rhizomes will run sideways in moist earth unless restrained with a root barrier.

Minimum soil depth required for a healthy plant = 1'

Unrestrained rhizome depth in moist soil = 2'

Bambusa castillonis, Phyllostachys castillonis, Castillon Bamboo, Madake kinmei chiku.

 

            Interesting canes with strong green stripes alternating from one side to the other as they move up into the leafy mass.   Mostly a collector's item because of the rarity of the plant in nurseries and because only bamboo collectors have been aware of the plant's availability in the US.

            2" maximum diameter canes are golden yellow with bright green grooves from the time they first come up, as opposed to most bamboo which have green shoots when they first come up.  Also has a few yellow-striped leaves.   Common in the U.S. & Europe in the 60's but in 1966-68 it flowered & died out, to be re-imported by the American Bamboo Society from Germany.  

            15 gallon pot sold at the 1986 ABS auction for $550.   5 gallon pot sold at the 1988 NCCABS auction for $260.  15 gallon pot sold at the 1986 ABS auction for $390.   5 gallon pot sold at the fall 1991 S.Cal.ABS sale for $40.   5 gallon single 3' culm sold at the September 1991 NWABS sale for $75.   At the fall SCABS sale 3 - 15 gal pots sold for $35 each & 7 - 5 gal pots sold for $30 each.