Bamboo
There are 700 or more species ofbamboo in the world, only 2 of them beingnative to the United States. They are grass.,belonging to a done genera, ranging in sinfrom a few feet to too feet or more. Seldom dothey fruit. In the tropics where they are at homethey usually are evergreen, but at least a speciesare hardy as far north as Boston, Mass., on theAtlantic seacoast where they have been grownsuccessfully for many years. The farther southone goes, the more species there are hardy, butusually bamboos as such are confined to anarrow strip along the Atlantic Coast from Long Island to a narrow strip of Tex. along theGulf but including most of all the statesbordering the water in between.
On the West Coast, bamboos are grown insouthwest Ariz., Calif., and a very narrow stripalong the Pacific Coast of Ore. and Wash. Someof the tropical species are grown in Fla. and thewarmest strip of land about the Gulf of Mexicoas well as southwest Ariz. and southwest Calif.,chiefly then in Zones 8, 9, 10..
Bamboos have woody stems, usually but notalways hollow between the joints. They makegraceful garden plants; some of the low on.make rapidly increasing ground covers whichmust be kept under rigid control or they becomeweedy pests. Some of the taller types grow inclumps. In the tropical regions of the worldthey are very important economic plants,affording material for building purposes,furniture, tools, weapons and even food,since the young shoots of some are eateneither raw or cooked.
A colts, or vegetative shoot of bamboo, isformed in the spring from food stored in theroots during the previous year, and grows tomature height in a short 5-8-week period. Whenthe shoot matures as ft. high, it is obvious thatthe growth of this is sometimes so rapid it canbe seen with the naked eye when carefullyobserved against a measuring stick. It is apeculiar habit of these plants that the younggrowing colts will always have the same dia. atits base that it will have when the calm hasreached the final height.
Two types of these grasses are the runningbamboos and the clump bamboos. The formersends out underground rhizomes from whichnew above-ground shoots or calms grow in thespring. These are the hardiest of the bamboosand in fact the a native American species belongin this group, namely, Arundinacea gigantea,the Canebrake Bamboo of the South which cangrow 3o ft. high and A. recta which is muchsmaller. The former may be used for fishingpoles and little else; the latter is sometimes usedas cattle fodder. All the so-called runningbamboos can become vicious spreading pests ifnot rigidly restrained in the garden.
It is the tall-growing, often tropical, clumpbamboos that have the gracefully arching calmsand are so distinctive in the landscape whereverthey can be grown. Even though these clumpsdo not spread as rapidly as the others, rootsfrom a single mature clump may spread out25 ft. in all directions, absorbing nutrients andmoisture from the soil and making it difficultto grow anything else close by. Over 6o speciesand varieties of running bamboos have beenintroduced into America, but at present only24 of these are considered to have sufficient economic or ornamental value to be discussedhere.
The running bamboo types briefly mentionedin the following list increase by undergroundrhizomes and range in height from a few feet10 70 feet. The lowest ones, like the Arundinariaspecies, are sometimes used as ground covers,but when used this way they should be restrain-ed by metal strips or concrete sunk in the soilabout 2 ft. deep to insure their staying in place.However, in some good soils this barrier mayhave to be sunk deeper. To keep them a littlelower in height, they might be cut off at theground level every 2-3 years, which makesthem more dense as well.
Some of the clump bamboos like Bambusamultiplex are used as informal hedges. Evensome of the running types like Phyllostachystneyeri, P. sierra and Semiarundinaria fastuosaare also used this way.
The clump bamboos .n be very gracefulornamental specimens. Since these are usuallysubtropical and tropical species and are usuallyevergreen, it should be noted that the calmsusually take 3 years to mature and hardenproperly so that their shoots should not be cutfor economic purposes until they are 3 years old.The calms of Bambusa vulgaris are frequentlyused for making vases and other ornaments,handles for tools, picture frames, ski poles, etc.Those with yellow or striped calms (Bambusamultiplex vars.) are decidedly ornamental, as are those with variegated foliage. A tall, well-grownclump bamboo, especially with small leaves, isalways a thing of beauty, since it usually has agraceful, arching, habit and is always rustling inthe slightest breeze.
The edible qualities of some bamboos isnoted in the following list. Most of the Phyllo-stachys species are in this group. Not all speciesare suitable, and some most be cooked, oftenwith changing the water twice, in order toremove the bitter taste. On the other hand, thecentral part of the new shoot of some can beeaten raw, often used in salads.
Usually these new shoots of edible bamboosappear in March, April and May. The periodfor cutting them is about 3-4 weeks, but it isadvisable to mound soil about been to excludethe light and that prevent them from becomingbitter. The sheath covering the young shootshould be removed, the tough basal part withroots cut off. The tender shoot can then be cuthorizontally in sections about in. thick andcooked about 20 minutes. If it is the slightlybitter type, then changing the water after boilingfor to minutes proves helpful in eliminating thebitter taste.
Propagation
The running bamboos are easily propagatedby taking root cuttings, 12 in. long, of the newrhizomes, keeping them moist during the trans-planting operation which should be undertakenany time from Jan. to March depending on thelocality. They are planted 5-6 in. deep, usuallykept 2 years in the nursery row where they arcwatered well and not allowed to dry out. Theyare fertilized with 5-to-5, about one pound orless per too-ft. row. When they are to be trans-planted, it is well to cut the calms back at leasttwo-thirds, and if they are not to be balled, itmight be best to cut them to the ground.
Clump bamboos are easiest propagated bydivision, but only when the weather is warm. Itis a mere cutting of smaller clumps or choppingapart of larger ones, but the calms themselvesmight best be reduced to about 2-3 ft. highwhen this operation is carried out.
Another may of propagating is to try calmcuttings, often successful with Bambusa species,sometimes not so successful with other species.The calm is cut half may above and below anode which bears a small branch. The openends of the calm are packed with moist soil andthe cutting planted horizontally in the soil, taking care that the calm is about 2-4 in. below the soil surface and the branch comes above thesoil surface. If done in warm weather and thesoil kept moist, rooting and sprouting shouldtake about a month. A third method is that oflayering, in which an entire calm is dug tip, roots and all, preferably one not over 3 yearsold, and laid in a trench, 6 in. deep, in moistsoil. A leafy branch or two is left at each nodeso that they are mostly above ground when thecalm is buried. After a few months, one carefullydigs down to the original calm, saws through itat the internodes but leaves the new plantletsundisturbed for another 2 months, after whichtime each plantlet can be dug and transplanted.Cutting bamboo canes is not as simple as itsounds, for the wood should be thoroughlymature—at least 3 years old—and the canesshould best be sawed off very close to theground. Canes can be straightened by applyingheat, or by hanging the cane upside down andapplying a heavy weight at the end for severalmonths, or merely by applying pressure to flatgreen canes as they are dried on a flat surface.In fact, canes already dried but curved can besoaked in water and then straightened.
Pests
Insect and disease pests on bamboo are notas yet prevalent in this country. Certainly thegardener with only a single plant or two on hisgrounds need pay little attention to it. The fungimay prove troublesome, especially bamboosmut. However, the few outcroppings of thisdisease which have occurred in America havebeen rigidly handled by destroying plants androots as well, so it seems unlikely that it will domuch damage again.
Insects of the sucking type, especially scales,have infested bamboo plants in America. Whereinfestation is heavy, cut and burn heavilyinfested stalks and spray the remainder with awhite-oil emulsion, 1-2./c, oil and II pints of50% malathion emulsifiable solution in too gals.water, sprayed on the plants in midspring whenthe young insects are in the crawling stage.The United States Department of Agriculturehas had men studying this group for some time,especially F. A. McClure, Joseph R. Haan andRobert A. Young who have supplied theinformation about them given here.
Bamboos Being Grown in America
Arundinaria amabilis 4e’ Zone 9 Tonkin Bamboo
Native to China, calms can be 21 in. across. Itis the small canes of this bamboo that are usedthroughout this country as plant stakes. Largercanes are used as ski poles and for makingsplit-bamboo fishing rods. A running bambootype.
Arundinaria simonii 24′ Zone 7 Steens Bamboo
Calms of this are up to t5 in. across and therhizomes spread less rapidly than those of mostother running bamboos. Young shoots are edible and 3-year-old culms make fine fishingpoles. The cultivar `Silverstripe’ has leavesstriped with white.
Arundinaria variegate 3′ Zone 6 Dwarf Whitestripe Bamboo
This can be grown as far north as Boston,Mass. It is native to Japan and valued for itsleaves striped with white. When grown this farnorth it dies to the ground each winter andshould be mowed off flush with the ground eachspring, after which the young growth emergesvigorous and colorful. A fast-increasing bamboowhich must be restrained in good garden soil.It has been noted that growth of this is betterin the northern coastal areas than in thesouthern.
Arundinaria viridistriata -23 Zone 7
A Japanese plant, with leaves 2-5 in. longstriped yellowish is spring and early summer,later changing to greenish. It is usually gassesin partial shade since in full sun, especially indry soils, the leaves tend to curl.
Bambusa arundinacea 95′ Zones 9–to Giant Thorny Bamboo
A clump bamboo from India with culms up to54 in. at the base, leaves 3-7 in. long asdf in.wide. The new shoots appear in the autumn insouthern Fla. and are edible though bitter. Thelower branches are thorny. It has been used forpaper pulp in India.
Bambusa beecheyana 40′ Zone 9 Beechey Bamboo
A clump bamboo from China with the basalparts of the culms about 4 in. across. Shoots areedible, appearing in late summer or early fall.Leaves are 34-7 in. long and f-ti in. wide. Insouthern China, this species supplies much ofthe edible bamboo shoots. The soil is moundedup about them to exclude the light and preventthem from becoming bitter until they are cutfor eating.
Bambusa multiplex xo’-so Zone 9 Hedge Bamboo
A variable clump bamboo from China and withits varieties is the most common of the orna-mental bamboos grown in the deep South andsouthern Calif., because it forms a compactgraceful clump, often with slightly archingculms. The new shoots appear in midsummerand are bitter and not eaten—the leaves aresilver colored beneath. The culms seldom aremore than tfis.aseassgtthebast.
‘Alphonse Kare‚Äîculms bright yellow, stripedgreen, tall.
`Fentlear —so-zo ft. tall, foliage gives impres-sion of feathery texture.
`Silverstripe Fernlear—feathery, white-stripedleaves.
`Stripestem Fernleaf ‘‚Äîculms at first reddish,irregularly striped green.
riviereorum‚ÄîChinese Goddess Bamboo‚Äîonlyto’ high.
`Silverstripe’‚Äîso ft. tall, a few to many leavesstriped white.
`Willowy’‚Äîzo ft. tall, leaves narrow, onlyis. wide and 14-44 in. long.
Bambusa oldhamii 55 Zone 9 Oldham Bamboo
A bamboo native to China and Formosa,growing in chimps which are not as dense asthose of many others. Leaves 3-9 in. long. 1in. wide. There are no important economic usesfor this species, although it makes a fine orna-inental clump.
Bambusa pervariabilis 55′ Zones 9-to Yan Chuk
A clump-type bamboo, growing erect withstiffly held culms that are sturdy, 2 in. across atthe base, the stems reportedly used in China forpunting poles.
Bambusa polymorpha 90′ Zone 10
Native to Burma this is a clump bamboo withculms as much as 6 in. in dia. at the base. Theleaves are small, 14-7+ in. long and only aboutin. wide, giving a very feathery foliage texture.Valued especially for its feathery foliage.Bambusa textilis so’ Zone 9 Wong ChukA clump bamboo from southern China, withculms possibly a in. across at the base, erectand stiff, with leaves up to 8 in. long and aninch wide, but there is a question about the bestgrowth conditions for it
Bambusa tulda 70′ Zone to
An Indian clurnp bamboo, leaves 3-to in. longand I-I in. wide with a basal culm dia. of 3 isIt has been used for paper pulp.
Bambusa tuldoides 55′ Zone 9 Puntingpole Bamboo
A Chinese clump bamboo with rigid, thickculms that may be 24 is across at the base.Leaves are 2I-5 in. long and in. wide. Widelygrown in China where it is a valued plant, theseculms are used for many things because theyare strong.
Bambusa vulgaris 8o’ Zone to
Probably the most widely grown of all thebamboos in the tropics, possibly because it is amost attractive tree type. The culms are 4-5 in.across at the bottom. The wood is poor forconstruction purposes but has been used forpaper pulp. It grows in loosely open clumps.
Dendrocalamus asper too’ Zone 9
An East Indian clump bamboo, chiefly valuedfor its edible shoots, which, to taste good,should be covered with soil umil they are cut.However, the wood is strong and lasting, thereason why it is used a great deal in the con-struction of houses in Java. Leaves are 5-t8 in.long and up to 3 in. wide, and the new shootsappear in the summer or early fall.
- Dendrocalamus latiflorus so’ Zone so T’im
- Chuk (Sweet Bamboo)A clump bamboo from Formosa with leaves6-to in. long and 1-2 in. wide, especially valuedfor the edible shoots appearing in the earlyautumn, for these shoots have usually no badtaste when eaten raw.
- Dendrocalamus strictus too’ Zone so
- Calcutta Bamboo
- A tall clump bamboo from India with calmsof in. through at the base, forming excellenthard wood when mature that is used for manyeconomic purposes. The leaves are 2-to in.long and up to j in. wide. In India the calmsare also used to make paper pulp.
- Phyllostachys aurea 3o’ Zone 8 Fishpole
- Bamboo
- Native to China but long cultivated in Japan,this has been grown in America since 1882. Theyoung shoots appearing in midspring areedible, and the matured (and smaller) calms areused for plant stakes, fishing poles, etc. Theplant is supposed to withstand temperatures too° F. It is of the running bamboo type.
- Phyllostachys aureosulcata 3o’ Zone 7
- Yellawgroove Bamboo
- A Chinese plant with calms about ti in. in dia.New shoots are edible, and the calms, althoughnot the best, are often used for fishing poles andplant stakes. A running bamboo type.
- Phyllostachys bambusoides 70′ Zone 8
- Madake, Giant Timber BambooThis is one of the most valuable of the economicbamboos native to China where it has beenused for timber purposes for centuries. Thecalms have a dia. of as much as 51 in. and thenew spring shoots are edible. It is of the runningbamboo type, adapted to the Gulf states andCalif. where temperatures do not go below o. F.The cultivar ‘Castillon’, of Chinese origin, isvery ornamental for the calms are bright yellowwith light green horizontal stripes. Othercultivars are `Allgold’, `Slender Crookstem’ and`White Crookstem’, the names of which aredescriptive.
- Phyllostachys dulcis 40′ Zone 8 Sweetshoot
- BambooA running bamboo from China, the new shootsof which are excellent for cooking. Althoughfor economic purposes the calms are inferior tothose of many other bamboos, it is one of thebest for eating purposes.
- Phyllostachys flexuosa 3o’ Zone 9
- A Chinese running bamboo, sometimes withcalms of slightly zig-zag growth. New shootsare edible. Old shoots are about to in. acrossat the base, and can be used for fishing poles,plant stakes and other purposes.
- Phyllostachys meyeri 35′ Zone 8 Meyer
- Bamboo
- Calms may be 2 in. across at the base. A runningbamboo from China, with edible new shoots,mature calms are considered the strongest andfinest of this genus. They make fine fishing poles,the larger ones for salt-water fishing poles andsplendid, long-lasting plant stakes.
- Phyllostachys nigra 25′ Zone 8 Black
- BambooA running bamboo from southern China sonamed because the calms change from green toblack, usually the first year. Nato shoots arcedible. This species makes a nice ornamentalbecause of its color and graceful foliage. It isfrequently used in the Orient for makingfurniture. The calms of the cultivar ‘Henon’ arehardier (Zone 7) and more colorful than thoseof P. nigra.
- Phyllostachys nuda 34′ Zone 7
- A running bamboo from China with calms ti in.across at the base, with edible shoots and calmsof excellent quality for fishing poles, plantstakes and other uses.
- Phyllostachys pubescens 6o’ Zone 9 Moso
- BambooThis is the tallest and the most ornamental ofthe running-bamboo type, native to China, longcultivated in Japan where the basal dia. of thecalms may be 8 in. The leaves are only about2-3 in. long and fl in. wide; hence the featherycharacter of the foliage is very much an orna-mental asset. Although the shoots are con-sidered not as tasty as those of other bamboosin this country, in the Orient they are generallysought for eating, especially because of theirlarge size. They are also canned and shipped toAmerica. Fresh shoots taste better if the waterin which they are boiled is changed at least oncein the cooking process.
- Phyllostachys viridi-glaucescens 35′ Zone 7A Chinese running bamboo with calms 2. in.across at the base, leaves 4-5 in. long andtn.wide. New shoots edible and even tasty whenraw, a condition lacking in most other so-called”edible” species which are best cooked.
- Phyllostachys viridis so’ Zone 7
- A Chinese running bamboo, with leaves 3-5 in.long and in. wide. New shoots are edible raw.The matured calms are excellent for variouspurposes. A cultivar with yellow calms andgreen stripes is `Robert Young’.
- Phyllostachys vivax 7o’ Zone 8
- Native to China, another running-bamboo type, this is a splendid, handsome, timber bamboowith culms up to Sin. across at the base. Leavesare 4-6 in. long, in. wide and the new shootsare edible raw.
- Pseudosasa japonica i8′ Zone 8 MetakeA fine ornamental, native to Korea and Japan,a running-bamboo type, it has been grown inAmerica for nearly too years and in Europelonger. Calms are fit. across at the base, withleaves 5-13 in. long and up to in. wide. Thisdoes not spread as rapidly as some of the otherrunning bamboos; hems it is a popular gardenplant, often grown on terraces in tubs.Sass disticha 2′-3′ Zone 7 Dwarf Fernleaf
- BambooA good ground cover of the running-bambootype with leaves about 1-2i in. long.
- Sasa palm. 7′ Zone 5
- This can be grown as far north as Boston, Mass.It is a running bamboo, originating in China orJapan, with leaves 4-15 in. long and 14-34 in.wide, bright green above and silvery beneath.It is a vigorous spreader and seems to growbetter in the North than in the South. On rareoccasions during a mild winter in Boston it maykeep its evergreen character most of the winter.Sasa veitchii 2′-3′ Zone 8 KumazasaA Japanese running bamboo which keeps lowin the sun but when grown in shade gets 4-5 ft.tall. Leaves are 2.-7 in. long and up to 1 in. wide.This also spreads rapidly.
- Semiarundinaria fastuosa 25′ Zone 7
- Narihira BambooA Japanese running bamboo with calmsslightly zig-zag in growth, making a splendidornamental with leaves up to 7 in. long and aninch wide and calms 11 in. across at the base.New spring shoots, though small, are edible.It has been grown as a hedge rather successfullybecause it does not spread as fast as do someof the other running bamboos.
- Shibataea kumasaca 3′-6′ Zone 8
- OkamezasaFrom Japan, this is a fine ornamental becauseit has an appearance almost like Roasts. Infact, Robert A. Young of the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture has suggested it be called theRuscus-leaf Bamboo, for probably it would notbe even thought of as a bamboo by the casualobserver. Leaves are ovate, sharp pointed, 2-4in. long and 5 in. wide. It has an interesting,slightly zig-zag habit of growing its culrns.Sinarundinaria nitida so’ Zone 8
- A Chinese clump bamboo, hardier than someof the others, with calms 5in. across at the base.The leaves, 2-3 in. long and I in. wide, are abrilliant green, making this a fine ornamentalplant. In China the thin canes are used in basketweaving, making sieves and even light fences.
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