PLEIOBLASTUS PYGMAEUS (Pygmy bamboo)

    Germany    Oregon, Ned Jaquith

1' height, Shade/sun, 10 degrees F Minimum, Runner.

 

        The big problem with specifying and growing this plant is almost every nursery and grower has a different small green bamboo with this name and they can easily vary in height from 2" high to 4' high or more at maturity. 

 

        The uncommon version of the plant, which is described in Index Kewensis as a slow-growing runner with tiny two-ranked leaves often only 1" long & slightly hairy on the lower surface is probably a temporary growth aberration. 

 

        The more common type is much faster growing, has 3-4" long leaves, & may be what the uncommon version grows into when it is given good cultural growth conditions. 

 

        Like all pleioblastus, it has not done well in Southern Florida.  Jean Harrington says it grows for in St. Pete, but slowly.

     Tim Meier in Wilmette, Illinois has a semi-evergreen plant which is half mulched & half exposed.  He reports both portions survive temperatures down to -25 degrees F.!

PLEIOBLASTUS PYGMAEUS VARIEGATUS

        Folks in Hawaii claim this is a unique version which grows widely throughout special gardens in their version of Eden, but when brought to the U.S. & grown side by side with Pl.variegatus, guess what - They're both the same.