bamboo choice

[Tom2006]

How hardy is that one Jacko?

[jacko]

around -18C.Mine has handled the last two winters no problem.first to shoot in spring and has sized up quite quickly.

[Adam D]

I have Fargesia robusta Campbell and about a quarter of the leaves have been burnt from the cold weather we have had.

However, it was only planted last Spring and it was one of Jungle Giants big specimens - it looked a bit tatty, but the 80 litre pot was absolutely full of roots, so I am hoping that it has been mostly been concentrating its efforts into getting settled into the ground in readiness for a fine show this Spring (that's the theory anyway!)

[AndyC]

Adam, I was recently casting envious eyes over a picture of 'Campbell' on the Kimmei website. It is a beauty so i hope yours survives and thrives.

[Adam D]

Adam, I was recently casting envious eyes over a picture of 'Campbell' on the Kimmei website. It is a beauty so i hope yours survives and thrives.

Thanks Andy

I can see it from where I am currently sitting and I must admit that it looks rather tatty, but it is certainly still alive.

[Simba]

around -18C.Mine has handled the last two winters no problem.first to shoot in spring and has sized up quite quickly.

To digress a little - Most of my bamboo looks in great condition here, despite minus 14.
Ph.Nigra
Ph.Vivax Aureo
Ph.Huangwenzhu
Ph.Spectabilis
Ph.Aurea
Ps.Japonica
Xh.Shiroshima
Fa.Jiuzhaigou

The strugglers
Borinda Papyrifera topkilled
Indocalamus Latifolius looking terrible

[jacko]

got some bad browning on my p.vivax aureocaulis from the cold but the huanvenzhu looks fine i think its slightly hardier than the aureocaulis.apart from that the same as you simba.

[Ali]

Gardening in , relativley , cold Sweden , although our location here on the westcoast is one of the milder ares , I can for pure hardiness recommend Phyllostachys Bissetii , I´m quite convinced that it is the hardiest Phyllostachys , I also cultivate P.japonica but it gets severly burnt after hard winters , comes back though.

Maybe you want a clumber , the Fargesia ssp. Jiuzhaigou is hardy here in zone 7a , although a zone 7 we can have quite long periods of subzero weather.

Good luck with your choice.

Ali , Hisingen.

[Mr List]

i think i like the look of arrow bamboo but i can't decide if i need to worry about it spreading too much.

[jacko]

Pseudosasa japonica or arrow bamboo has the dreaded 'sasa' word in it.it'll spread like wildfire if your not vigilant with it.mines in a pot and its staying in a pot.bloke round here has one in the ground that has completely gone out of control he's having a nightmare trying to get rid of it.also this species has escaped round here and can be seen in the wild.take a look at jungle giants website they've got some great choice there with descriptions.

[Ali]

Even here the P.japonica can be quite vigilant , depends on the local climate , Bissetii is more of a slow starter but when it states " Well , I kind of approve this place " it gets very vigilant.

[Lazlo Woodbine]

Fargesia scabrida would be my choice for an attractive clumper - dark culms like the nitida forms - but more suitable for exposed positions. I've grown it for 3 years and its sailed through this winter and last with virtually no leaf burn - (I'm up in Northumberland ...seriously chilly!).

The original plant has been divided a couple of times - I now have 6-7 large plants - the biggest of which is around 7-8ft.

edited to add;

Both of my Borindas top killed Simba....
papyrifera and albocera(Yunnan 3b)

Laz

[jacko]

good choice laz,nice specimen too

[Mr List]

just been down to B&Q , they have just got in fresh big bamboos.

they had arrow for £40, that usual p.au..something for £30 and another one that i can't remember.

if that helps anybody, i'm going to order mine online since it will be easier than lugging them home on a bus.

[Mr List]

bump!


i have decided on getting arrow bamboo.
i was going to get two bigger pots and let it spread.
now i have decided to go for more 5 litre pots and get a more instant screen effect.

where has the best prices for 5 ltr pots of Pseudosasa japonica? (with some height, not at ground level)

how many plants would i need for a strip 1foot by about 3-4metres?
i know eventually 1 plant would cover that on its own so what will happen with a few competing over the space?

the ground where these are going used to be rubbish and weeds before we dug it over and covered with a plastic sheet and 4-5 inches of gravel.

some japanese knotweed still occasionally pops up between the wall and the gravel ,
where these bamboos will be going.
i am going to try and dig into the ground and fish out any left over knot weed but if i miss any who would win in a fight between knotweed and pseudosasa?