BAMBUSA. Widespread, mostly in the tropics. A group of clumping (short-rhizome) bamboos, now enjoying renewed popularity with California gardeners. They vary enormously in size, form and texture. Many are too tropical even for California, being injured even by slight frosts. Several, however are useful ornamentals here. All are easily grown, though varying drastically in size and other features according to their cultural regimen. Sun to moderate shade, most soils, variable watering. Hardiness varies as shown below. The following give a reasonably broad representation of the group.
glaucescens (multiplex). Though quite variable, this species has several distinctive features. The plants form compact clumps. The stems are slender and bear sprays of short branchlets along the upper nodes. 2-4" leaves are arranged in neat, opposing rows on the branchlets. The selection ‘Alphonse Karr’ has beautiful pink stems in new growth, these changing gradually to gold or light orange with dark green stripes. There is also a ‘Green Alphonse Karr’ with only lighter and darker green shading. ‘Golden Goddess’ is similar though usually smaller growing, with yellow stems and dense brushes of leaves. ‘Silverstripe’ is more open in habit, more vigorous and ultimately larger. The stems follow a distinctly zigzag path and bear open sprays of cream-variegated leaves. ‘Rivierorum’, Chinese goddess bamboo, is the smallest of all in stature and has the tiniest, most closely spaced leaves. With full exposure and occasional watering, the smaller selections will stay below 8’ (4-6’ in the case of `Rivierorum’), the larger probably 10’, while shady conditions, rich soil and regular watering can double their size. These are excellent plants for screening and hedges, and thrive even when rootbound in containers. About 15oF.
oldhamii. Clumping timber bamboo. Though still moderate by the standards of some tropical species, this is certainly as large a bamboo as most gardeners could desire, reaching 40-50' with age and forming impressive clumps. It has thick dark green canes aging yellowish green, with conspicuous nodes and lustrous large, dark green leaves, lighter beneath. Hardy to around 20o, though plants have resprouted from the base after harder freezes.
textilis. Weaver’s bamboo. This is one of the new objects of considerable attention among bamboo buffs, due to its combination of clumping habit and relative hardiness. It grows from a tightly packed (which is not necessarily to say, narrow) base, with many arching culms 20-40' high and up to 2" in diameter. They are thin-walled and flexible enough to be widely used for baskets and thatching, but still fairly strong. The culms are attractively exposed below, with open sprays of rather stiff, deep green leaves above. It is reputedly hardy to 15oF or less.
ventricosa. Buddha's belly bamboo. Intermediate in scale between the last two species, this one can reach 40' or more under lush conditions but usually stays much smaller. The bright green stems follow a somewhat zigzag course and may, if stressed by exposure and drought, develop grotesque swellings between the nodes. The 6" leaves are bright green and softly shiny. Hardy to 20oF or less.