PHYLLOSTACHYS BAMBUSOIDES HOLOCHRYSA (All Gold Japanese Timber Bamboo)

 

Probable height in Southern California within 3 years = 15'

Probable ultimate height in Southern California = 20'

Height in habitat = 35'

Loses leaves around 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Loses canes around -5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dies around -30 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'

Allgold Bamboo, Ogon chiku.

 

        Similar in appearance to Phyllostachys viridis 'Robert Young,' with a few light green stripes on gold culms. 'All Gold' has fewer stripes & gets larger in diameter (up to 2" diameter). Ted Doremus of Warren, Texas says you can also tell the difference by feeling the node on a mature culm. 'AllGold' supposedly has 2 equal raised rings whereas 'Robert Young' is said to have a small ring plus a larger ring.

        Small single-node rhizome cuttings made in spring will produce foliage if kept hot & moist for several months. But - when the plantlets are placed outside most fail. So, rhizome cuttings should be 6-9" long, probably forced in the pots that they will be grown in for the first year, & ideally grown in a warm moist environment for at least 6 months.

        Imported by the ABS from Japan in 1987.  A 5 gallon pot was sold at the 1988 ABS auction for $315.  15 gallon pots were sold by the ABS in the spring of 1991 for $150 & in the fall for $100.  A small plant in a 5 gallon pot was offered at the spring 1994 SCABS auction for $50 but found no buyer.  A 5 gallon pot 12" high sold for $40 at the spring 1995 SCABS auction.