Bamboos for the Sacramento Valley
      For general information about bamboos, read Don's bamboo article.
      For more information on bamboo, visit the American Bamboo Society web page at http://www.americanbamboo.org/GeneralInfo.html#Introduction.
      The ABS Source List is a very useful descriptive guide. See http://www.americanbamboo.org/SpeciesSourceList.html#Introduction
      Lucky bamboo? Heavenly bamboo? Bamboo muhly? Bamboo palm? Giant reed?
      Click here for a list of other plants called 'bamboo'!
      Notes on availability:
      We stock several varieties of bamboo at any given time, mostly Bambusas and other non-invasive types in #5 cans, some runners in #5 cans, and some of the smaller runners in 4" pots. Those listed as available can be special-ordered if they are not in stock. Prices vary; call for more information.

      For more info on ordering bamboo, read this article

      GENUS SPECIES VARIETY COMMON NAME HEIGHT  
        Notes about growing this species.
      Arthrostylidium sp.

      		Med
      Unknown; may be a Chusquea sp.
      Arundinaria viridistriata
      		aka Sasa pygmaea Low
      Runner. Extremely invasive. Cute in pots.
      Bambusa beecheyana
      		Beechey's bamboo Very tall
      Non-invasive Huge. Tender here--grows rapidly to 30' + each summer, then killed or partially killed each winter.
      Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' Alphonse Karr hedge Tall
      Non-invasive One of the best bamboos for the average yard. 10 - 12' tall, with beautiful striped stems. Highly recommended.
      Bambusa multiplex 'Fernleaf' Fernleaf Hedge Med
      Non-invasive. Very nice small bamboo for accent plant. The best for small yards. Sometimes reverts to straight B. multiplex. Highly recommended.
      Bambusa multiplex 'Golden Goddess' Golden Goddess hedge Med
      Non-invasive. The standard hedge bamboo. We can't seem to get this one from our wholesalers without the coastal scale insect. This insect doesn't usually overwinter, but it does draw ants during the first season until the scale dies out.
      Bambusa multiplex 'Riviereorum' Chinese Goddess hedge Med
      Non-invasive Smaller version of Golden Goddess.
      Bambusa multiplex 'Silverstripe' Silverstripe Hedge Tall
      Non-invasive Taller than, but similar to, Golden Goddess, except the leaves have white stripes. Good tall hedge..
      Bambusa oldhami
      		Oldham's giant timber Very tall
      Non-invasive.Very tall, fast-growing. Tight clumps. Damaged in 1990 and 1998, but recovered quickly. The best timber bamboo for this area.
      Bambusa textilis
      		Weaver's bamboo Tall
      Non-invasive.
      Bambusa tuldoides
      		Punting Pole bamboo Tall
      Non-invasive.. Very graceful, tall, slender. Availability very limited.
      Bambusa ventricosa
      		Buddha's belly Tall
      Non-invasive, but big! A truly beautiful bamboo when grown in the ground, with big, green, glossy leaves. When it is intentionally stunted it develops swollen nodes. One of the best in Northern California for a fast, dense screen that looks good in the winter. Highly recommended.
      Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' striped Common bamboo Tall
      Non-invasive. Beautiful striped stems. Forms an open clump, with the canes visible. Needs protection in the first winters in the Sacramento Valley, but hardy after 1 - 2 winters. Highly recommended, but rare in the trade.
      Chimonobambusa marmorea 'Variegata' Marbled bamboo Tall
      Runner
      Chimonobambusa quadrangularis
      		Squarestem bamboo Tall
      Runner. Odd, because it initiates shoots in the fall or winter, which limits invasiveness even though these are runners. Culms are square on mature plants.
      Chusquea aff. culeo

      		Tall
      Non-invasive. Open clumper. The taxonomy of this plant is not clear. The shoots are red, the culms are light and dark green. It branches, so it forms a dense, leafy plant. The clumps are open.
      Chusquea breviglumis
      		see C. aff. culeo Tall
      Non-invasive
      Chusquea coronalis

      		Tall
      Non-invasive; tender until established, so protect it when it is young. The ABS Source List describes it as “possibly the most beautiful bamboo in cultivation.” Soft green leaves and a nice weeping habit. Great container plant. Highly recommended.
      Chusquea pittieri

      		Tall
      Non-invasive; tender until established. ABS: “the culms grow up, then arch over or hang down or climb on trees. The largest of the genus.” Makes a soft, weeping plant. Great in containers.
      Dendrocalamus sp.

      		Tall
      Incredible, huge culms, but too tender to grow here (D. asper might succeed).
      Drepanostachyum falcatum

      		Tall
      see Himalayacalamus hookerianus
      Drepanostachyum hookerianum

      		Tall
      see Himalayacalamus falconeri f. Damarapa
      Drepanostachyum sengteeanum

      		Tall
      sold as D. falconeri
      Fargesia dracocephala
      		Dragon's Head Tall
      Non-invasive. Small leaves. Very cold hardy. Seems to get leaf burn if in too much sun or dry wind.
      Fargesia fungosa 'Chocolate'
      		Tall
      Non-invasive
      Fargesia
      		'Maroon'
      		Tall
      Non-invasive
      Fargesia murielae
      		Umbrella Bamboo Tall
      Non-invasive. ABS: “Grows at above 10,000 feet in China, important Panda food.” Very cold hardy.
      Fargesia nitida
      		Fountain bamboo Tall
      Non-invasive. Looks delicate, grows slowly. Prefers some shade. Dark purplish culms. Very cold hardy.
      Gaoligongshania megalothyrsa
      		  Tall
      Non-invasive; not much known about this bamboo.
      Hibanobambusa tranquillans   green-leaved form Tall
      Runner.
      Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima'   Tall
      Runner. ABS: “strikingly attractive leaves variegated in cream and green.” Great container plant.
      Himalayocalamus falconeri 'Damarapa' Candy-stripe bamboo Tall
      Non-invasive
      Himalayocalamus hookerianus
      		Himalayan Blue bamboo Tall
      Non-invasiveBlue-green leaves, tight clumping habit.
      Indocalamus tesselatus

      		Low
      Runner
      Otatea acuminata aztecorum Mexican weeping bamboo Tall
      Non-invasive. Prefers afternoon shade. Large, open clump. Very graceful....a real accent in the landscape, but give it room.
      Phyllostachys aurea
      		Golden bamboo Tall
      Runner. The most widely planted bamboo in California, and what most people think of as “bamboo.” Great in containers.
      Phyllostachys aurea 'Koi' Golden bamboo Tall
      Runner.
      Phyllostachys aureosulcata
      		Yellowgroove bamboo Tall
      Runner
      Phyllostachys aureosulcata var. alata
      		Tall
      Runner. Greengroove instead of yellow.
      Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillon' Japanese timber bamboo Tall
      Runner. Regular P. bambusoides was widely planted in California. In the 1970's it all flowered and most died.
      Phyllostachys bissettii

      		Tall
      Runner
      Phyllostachys dulcis
      		Sweetshoot bamboo Tall
      Runner
      Phyllostachys heterocycla pubescens Moso Tall
      Runner. Very widely grown around the world for wood, shoots. Apparently not happy in hot, dry climates.
      Phyllostachys mannii
      		Beautiful bamboo Tall
      Runner. Common name is Beautiful Bamboo. This bamboo's botanical name is unclear; sometimes sold as P. mannii 'Decora' Very tolerant of heat, drought, cold.
      Phyllostachys nigra
      		Black bamboo Tall
      Runner. Very sensitive to salts in water; gets very unsightly leaf burn so it is not recommended. 'Bory' and 'Henon' are two selected forms available.
      Phyllostachys praecox

      		Tall
      Runner. Very sensitive to salts in water; gets leaf burn
      Phyllostachys violascens

      		Tall
      Runner. ABS: “Culms blackish-violet at first, sometimes striped wth violet. Sheaths deep purple.”
      Phyllostachys viridis

      		Tall
      Runner
      Phyllostachys viridis 'Robert Young'
      		Tall
      Runner
      Pleioblastus akebono

      		Low
      Runner. Usually sold as Arundinaria.
      Pleioblastus argenteostriatus

      		Low
      Runner. Usually sold as Arundinaria
      Pleioblastus chino 'Murakamiensis'
      		Low
      Runner. Usually sold as Arundinaria
      Pleioblastus distichus
      		Dwarf fernleaf Low
      Runner. Usually sold as Arundinaria. Not to be confused with B. multiplex 'Fernleaf'!
      Pleioblastus fortunei
      		Dwarf whitestripe Low
      Runner. Also sold as P. variegatus.
      Pleioblastus gramineus

      		Low
      Runner. Usually sold as Arundinaria.
      Pleioblastus viridistriatus
      		Dwarf greenstripe Low
      Runner.
      Pseudosasa japonica var. tsutsumiana Green Onion bamboo Low
      Runner. Swollen culm internodes are the reason for the common name.
      Sasa palmata var. nebulosa

      Runner. Very invasive.
      Sasaella masamuniana albostriata

      Runner. Very invasive. Large, thick leaves are striped green and white. Very striking in containers.
      Semiarundinaria fastuosa
      		Narihira bamboo
      Runner.
      Shibatea kumasaca

      		Med
      Runner. Subject to leaf burn in alkaline soil
      Sinobambusa tootsik 'Variegata'
      		Med
      Runner
      Thamnocalamus aristatus

      		Med
      Non-invasive alpine native. Native to the Himalayas, where it grows above 10,000 feet.
      Thamnocalamus tessellatus

      		Med
      Non-invasive South African native.
      Yushania anceps
      		formerly Arundinaria anceps
      		 
      Wide clumpers that spread, but not invasively. ABS: “One of the beautiful mountain bamboos from the Indian Himalayas. “


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      This Bamboo Selection Table is available at http://redwoodbarn.com/bambootable.html
      © 2004 Don Shor, Redwood Barn Nursery, Inc., 1607 Fifth Street, Davis, Ca 95616
      www.redwoodbarn.com
      Feel free to copy and distribute this article with attribution to this author.