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Are you considering growing Bamboo? I certainly hope so as these are such lovely grasses. Yes, the Bamboo does belong to the Grass Family, and forms a great sub-family of more than 250 species, mostly tropical. If you live in an area of the country where the tempmometer doesn't go below zero you will love growing these special grasses.
Many of these species are at home on the Pacific coast and along the eastern seaboard from Florida to Virginia. They will also grow in the southern part of the United States as in the deep south.
There is a lot of confusion in the names of the various Babmoos. It does seem that every dotany book will list these different. I am going to list the eight genera that I am familiar with for you.
Arundinaria- This genus includes about six species in North American and eastern Asia.
A gigantea- Cane Reed (Virginia to Florida and westward). Forms cane brakes up to 25'. After it flowers the cane will die.
A. negashima- (Japan). This is a small hardy Running Bamboo, spreads by underground stems, makes a good ground cover in sun or partial shade.
Phyllostachys- This genus has about 25 species in Asia.
P. aurea- Yellow stems
P. bambusiodes- 20'
P. flexuosa- Compact plant 6' to 8' in height
P. nigra- Yellow stems dotted black
P. sulphurea- Yellow stems
P. viridi-glaucescens- 12'. Yellowish-green cane.
Pleioblastus (eastern Asia). About 30 species
P. humilis (Sasa humils)- Pale gray-green foliage
P. pumilus- A dwarf Running Bamboo growing from a few inches to 6'. Becomes a weed in the south.
P. simoni (Arundinaria simoni)- Bright growing from a few inches to 6'. Becomes a weed in the south.
P. viridi-striatus (Arundinaria auricoma)
Pseudossas japonica- One of three species from eastern Asis, which botanists formerly included under Bambusa arundinaria, then moved, and it is a spreading species with Willow-like leaves.
Sasa- There are about 70 species of Sasa in western Asia. Most of these are low or medium sized shrubs.
S. chrysantha- Hardy Running Bamboo, forms a ground cover that spreads rapidly, not is not of ornamental value.
S. tessellata
S. veitchi (Bambusa veitchi, Phyllostacbys bambusoides).
Semiarundinaria fastuosa (Asia). l8' to 25' and is the most important ot the three species of this genus. Forms erect, vigorous dark green trees. It can stand temperatures as low as zero.
Shibatea kumasasa (Phylostachys Kumasasa) (eastern Asia). This species has a low-tufted habit and is comparatively broad-leaved.
Sinoarundinaria nitida (China) 8' to l0' with slender canes arching at the top, very hardy.
Now that I have named and described the various
types of Bamboos and if you have the area for growing them I would suggest you try one or two.
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