CHIMONOBAMBUSA. China and Japan. Running bamboos of variable height, branching habit and foliage, though all of those in cultivation are highly ornamental. The two which follow may be grown in sun or light shade, in most soils with moderate to regular watering. Hardy to 20oF or below.
marmorea. Marbled bamboo. One of the smaller species, generally under 6’ tall, this one also makes exceptionally dense thickets useful for informal hedges. The arching stems are dark green changing to nearly black. Younger shoots show lengths of bare stem alternating with pale, pink-striped bracts. The short branches are held nearly erect to create narrow brushes of shiny 3-5" leaves. The selection ‘Variegata’ has irregular cream striping. The major drawback of this beautiful bamboo is its propensity for invading adjacent plantings, though it is much more easily removed than some Phyllostachys species.
quadrangularis. Square-stemmed bamboo. More stiffly erect and considerably larger than the last (up to 20’). It also has relatively thick stems, nearly square at the swollen nodes, and broad sprays of branches carrying long, narrow, bright green leaves. An elegant bamboo.