Some of my bamboos

[AndyC]

This post is really an attempt to get MarkJ to show us what bamboos grown properly should look like :)
My favourite boo, Borinda papyrifera starting to produce some nice sized culms

No shortage of new culms on Fargesia scabrida

I was given this one and told it is Phyllostachys dulcis. Not a very good picture for identifying it properly but can you tell me what to look for please.

Good looking culms on Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillonis' last year so hoping for more later.

This Phyllostachys nigra 'Henonis' has been in the ground for four years. Dozens of new culms every year but when is it likely to size up?

Show us you boos.

[Markj]

All looking good :D



Most are still sleeping here which is actually a good thing as late frosts are quite common here and can do a lot of damage to early shoots ( although it would be good to get a nice blast of summer to get things started ).

The true dulcis is actually easy to ID, the older culms develop a fairly faint but quite noticeable stripy effect with different shades of green. Not found on any others so is a good ID feature - good plant as well, sizes up quickly with big shoots.

Will definitely have to have a good look round with a camera in hand this weekend ;)

[tony]

All looking good :D



Most are still sleeping here which is actually a good thing as late frosts are quite common here and can do a lot of damage to early shoots ( although it would be good to get a nice blast of summer to get things started ).

The true dulcis is actually easy to ID, the older culms develop a fairly faint but quite noticeable stripy effect with different shades of green. Not found on any others so is a good ID feature - good plant as well, sizes up quickly with big shoots.

Will definitely have to have a good look round with a camera in hand this weekend ;)

Yes please Mark! Andy - you must be quite close to me but no movement at all from my bamboos so far.

[AndyC]

Andy - you must be quite close to me but no movement at all from my bamboos so far.

Tony, you haven't put your location in your profile, naughty boy :) Are you in Surrey?

It does seem to be genus and, to a lesser degree, species dependant as to when they get going. All my Fargesias and Indocalamus species are shooting except for F.nitida. The X hibanobambusa tranquillans is going like a train (glad I put a root barrier around this one) but the 'Shiroshima' form has only just started. Some of the Phyllostachys have started but others haven't, P.bambusoides 'Castillonis' was the last of them to start shooting last year, about the end of June I think. The potted Chusquea gigantea has started but the Chusquea culeou in the ground has yet done nothing.
I popped into B&Q the other day for some timber and had a look at the bamboos for sale in their plant area. Mostly P.bissetti and P.aurea, all with brown leaves and pots dry as a Pharaoh's sock. What a waste.

[Chrisg]

The bamboos are one of the plants I regret not being able to bring with me when I moved. After 5 years in the ground they were all really getting into their stride and doing what they were suppose to do. I am now starting to consider what is going in the new garden and there will be at least one boo, but not sure which.

Problem is there are so many nice ones, you really do need a garden like Marks so you don't have to choose. I would love to have a big yellow culm variety and really let it get massive. Sadly while the new garden is bigger it is not that big. I had a Fargesia jiuzhaigou as a manageable plant in the last garden and that may be an option. Although it was less upright than I would have liked. I also had a robusta and scabrida and while they were both lovely plants, I'm not sure they would make the grade if there was only one spot.

[tony]

Andy - you must be quite close to me but no movement at all from my bamboos so far.

Tony, you haven't put your location in your profile, naughty boy :) Are you in Surrey?

It does seem to be genus and, to a lesser degree, species dependant as to when they get going. All my Fargesias and Indocalamus species are shooting except for F.nitida. The X hibanobambusa tranquillans is going like a train (glad I put a root barrier around this one) but the 'Shiroshima' form has only just started. Some of the Phyllostachys have started but others haven't, P.bambusoides 'Castillonis' was the last of them to start shooting last year, about the end of June I think. The potted Chusquea gigantea has started but the Chusquea culeou in the ground has yet done nothing.
I popped into B&Q the other day for some timber and had a look at the bamboos for sale in their plant area. Mostly P.bissetti and P.aurea, all with brown leaves and pots dry as a Pharaoh's sock. What a waste.

Ooops sorted now. I did move two Fargesias this spring swopping their position ( Jinzhaighou is much nicer than Murielae imho and warranted a more prominent position) and this may have something to do with it but none of the phylos are moving yet.

[David Matzdorf]

Good looking culms on Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillonis' last year so hoping for more later.

That's 'Castillonis inversa'. 'Castillonis' is butter-yellow with a a green sulcus.

I grew 'Castillonis' for many years at my old place. It's never very prolific with the new culms.

[AndyC]

Thanks David, can never remember which way round the colour/inversa thingy works.

Chris, if I had to choose just one well behaved, upright, bamboo and lived within the influence of the London 'heat island' I would go for a Borinda. All the ones I've seen of this genus are beautiful.

Jinzhaighou is much nicer than Murielae imho and warranted a more prominent position

True, but I'm still very proud of my little F.murieliae. It's mum flowered and died in 2007/8 and this is the result of selecting the most attractive and vigorous seedling.

[AndyC]

The new culms on the Borinda papyrifera are loosing their sheaths now to reveal the fabulous colour beneath :D

Borinda papyrifer by atropica1, on Flickr

[charlie]

Of course thats not annoying, mine was all but killed by the cold and has scarcely grown since! but at least that picture reminds me why I was trying!!