SHIBATAEA CHINENSIS 

 

  1' height, Sun, -5 degrees F Minimum.  Ornamental running Chinese pot plant or groundcover, similar to but smaller than Shibataea kumasaca which may be hardier & show less leaf burn in alkaline soil.  2 gallon pot sold at '88 ABS auction for $55.  3 gallon pot with 10 18" culms sold at September '91 NWABS sale for $40.  8" pot 18" tall offered at '95 SCABS fall sale for $20 but found no buyer.

 

SHIBATAEA KUMASACA  

Terrific Australian info & photo

 

2' height, Shade/sun, 0 degrees F Minimum.  Cute, small, tough, drought-resistant, unique Japanese runner with distinctive broad leaves in dense clumps. Compact branching & running habit - if you don't know the plant you'll probably not recognize it as a Bamboo.  Often said to like acid soil, but we checked an old stand at L.A. Arboretum, & it was neutral.

        Introduced into U.S. from Japan in 1861.

        Roots & rhizomes survive down to -20 degrees F. if heavily mulched.  David Andrews in Maryland reports plant evergreen down to 3 degrees F. & culms die to ground at -8 degrees F. but regrow in spring.   2' maximum height in

Southern California.  No shibateas do well in Southern Florida.

 

SHIBATAEA KUMASACA VARIEGATA  Rare decorative form with strong yellow & green variegation.  2 gallon pot we supplied sold at 1988 ABS auction for $145.  S.k. aureovariegata sold at 10/95 ABS auction in Savannah for $450!