PLEIOBLASTUS. China and Japan. This is the new repository for most of the bamboos you thought you knew as Arundinaria. They are variable in size and spread, though most are capable of forming large thickets, smothering nearly any other plant in their path. The best remedy is usually either drought or containment in large tubs or planter boxes. They have rather slender stems, branched above to display sprays of ornamental lance shaped leaves. They thrive in sun or part shade (the variegated types should be shaded in hot-summer areas), in most soils, with moderate watering. Hardiness varies as shown.
argenteostriatus (Arundinaria argenteostriata). The most delicately textured of the species we have grown to date. It has very slender, profusely branched stems, 3’ tall or less, and sprays of small, heavily cream-striped leaves. 10oF. or less.
chino. A Japanese species with stems 6-12’ high and leaves up to 10" long in wild forms; most of the horticultural selections are considerably smaller. The stems are branched above, presenting broad sprays of attractive leaves. The leaves are smooth and deep green above, lighter and sometimes hairy beneath. The cultivar ‘Murakamianus’ is alleged to grow as much as 10’ high (I think a more reasonable maximum here is 5’). It has 3" leaves which emerge mostly cream-colored, becoming mostly green with white stripes as they mature. ‘Akebono’ shifts gradually from cream in new growth to deep green in mature leaves. 0oF. or less.
distichus (pygmaeus var. distichus, Sasa disticha). Dwarf fernleaf bamboo. Deceptively delicate in appearance, this is a potentially fearsome spreader, best kept in strong-walled containers. It grows 1-2’ high and has slender stems, branched above. Dark, narrow 2-3" leaves are neatly set in opposing rows, elegant in effect. 10oF. or less.
gramineus (Arundinaria graminea). Another finely textured bamboo, reputedly growing to 12’ but usually much less. The stems are slender though nearly erect, bearing rows of very narrow, grasslike leaves, 4-8" long, near their tips. It makes an attractive, filmy screen and an elegant subject for large tubs. About 10oF.
hindsii ‘Yasui’. A soldierly-looking bamboo, making thickets of straight, stout stems 10’ or more in height. The younger stems have a chalky grey-green surface when the pale bracts fall away. The larger stems are branched mostly along their upper third, exposing the stems well. Neatly lining the branches are dark, straight, narrow leaves up to 8" long.
linearis. This is similar to P. gramineus, above, growing 8-12’ high. The leaves are longer, stiffer and darker in color.
simonii (Arundinaria simonii). Medake. With straight, slender stems reaching 10-20’, this is one of the most impressive of the group. Neat rows of narrow, dark green 4-8" leaves line the upper stems. We have traditionally grown both the typical form and the selection ‘Heterophyllus’ (also sold as ‘Variegatus’, which properly belongs to another clone). The latter has narrower leaves, irregularly striped with cream. Both have flowered in the last several years, and our material of the typical form belongs to the new seedling generation. The shoots which appeared after flowering on ‘Heterophyllus’ have all lost their variegation. 0oF.
variegatus. A dense thicket former with erect 1-2’, sparsely branched stems. The 4" leaves are irregularly striped with cream. -10oF.
viridistriatus (Arundinaria viridistriata, A. auricoma). This plant much resembles the last but has somewhat longer (up to 6") leaves, striped with light and dark green and bright golden-yellow. The yellow portions gradually shift to green as the leaves mature and are shaded by others still younger. The variety chrysophyllus is particularly beautiful. It has unstriped leaves, solidly golden yellow in new growth. 0oF.