PHYLLOSTACHYS VIRIDIS ROBERT YOUNG

 

 

 

Probable height in Southern California within 3 years = 15'

Probable ultimate height in Southern California = 30'

Height in habitat = 40'

Loses leaves around  10 to  15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Loses canes around  -10 to  0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rhizomes die around  -30 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

If growing in the ground it prefers half sun, half shade.

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

Minimum soil depth required for a healthy plant = 6"

Unrestrained rhizome depth in moist soil = 12"

 

         Good decorative specimen plant in a large pot or planter  with 3' maximum diameter edible shoots & one of the most vigorous, aggressive plants in the plant kingdom - don't put it into the ground unless you want it to say hi to your neighbors! 

       New canes are sulfur-green, later develop to a yellow-gold with a horizontal green band below each node & vertical green stripes extending down from the horizontal bands.  New cane sheaths in the spring are combed with fine brown lines & heavily spotted with large brown spots.  Also the sheaths have tiny leaves attached which are pink & brown & light green with a white-striped edge. 

     Large plants were planted on a 20' high trellis with a permanent misting system at the Temporary Contemporary Museum in LA in 1986, where it didn't do well, perhaps because the mist and watering system were not used enough.

        David Andrews reports plant is evergreen down to 9 degrees F. & canes die to the ground at -8 degrees F., but then regrow the next spring.