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  • Bamboos for the Sacramento Valley

    Click here for printable (pdf) version
    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. “

    Click here for more information about bamboo.



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    © 2008 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.
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