OTATEA acuminata var. aztecorum. Mexico. Mexican weeping bamboo. One of the most elegant of all bamboos. It has slender, arching stems up to 10’ long in younger plants, considerably stouter and taller in old, established plants. They are widely branched and carry a thin veil of very narrow, bright green 3-6" leaves. This is a beautiful subject for containers, although it looks fairly shabby (or may even be deciduous, given hard freezes) in winter. Recently all material of the original clone in California flowered, and many died. From these have come thousands of seedlings, and a chance to make new selections. ‘Chica’ is a dwarf clone with many slender stems from the base and small, very narrow leaves. It should be ideal for small tubs, while the typical form is an elegant plant for larger containers. Sun or (preferably) light shade, protection from dry winds, reasonably well drained soil, moderate to regular watering. Ultimately hardy to 18oF. or less when established, though damaged by any hard freeze.