BAMBOO VARIETIES FOR TEXAS

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS ... INPUT AND CORRECTIONS ARE WELCOMED!
I know, there are some formattng problems with this version . . . do your best.

Index to Information in This Site

Clumping Bamboos for Texas

Bambusa	Himalayacalamus
Dendrocalamus	Otatea
Fargesia	Thamnocallamus

Running Bamboos for Texas

Arundinaria	Pleioblastus	Sasaella
Indocalamus	Pseudosasa	Semiarundinaria
Phyllostachys	Sasa	Shibatea

Bamboo for Texas in Outdoor Containers

Bamboo for Indoors and for Bonsai

Bambusa	Hibanobambusa	Sasaella
Borinda	Himalayacalamus	Semiarundinaria
Chimonobambusa	Indocalamus	Shibataea
Chusquea	Otatea	Thamnocallamus
Dendrocalamus	Phyllostachys	Thyrsostachys
Drepanostachyum	Pleioblastus	Yushania
Gigantochloa	Pseudosasa

Bamboo Names and Synonyms

Sources of Information
 
 
 

Growing Bamboo in Texas

River Cane (Arundinaria gigantea gigantea) is the only bamboo native to Texas, but the varieties of terrain, soils, and USDA plant hardiness zones in the state make it possible to grow many other bamboo species successfully.  The information in this site is written  for use by both gardeners new to bamboo and by Texas Bamboo Society members.

The species listed here represent those which are generally available to Texas growers through local nurseries or by mail order.
 

Clumping Bamboos

Information listed here includes the following.

The following are the most cold-tolerant Bambusa species.

The species of Dendrocalamus listed here are the most cold-tolerant ones in the genus.

Drepanostachyum falcata  (see Himalayamacalamus hookerianus)

Fargesia sp. **
NOTE:  Species of this genus are generally cold tolerant, but their roots do not do well if they are overly warm for long periods. They do best if their roots are able to cool at night, so if you want to try them in Texas, consider a place with afternoon shade where the soil may be cooler overnight.

The species of Otatea listed here are the most cold-tolerant ones in the genus.

Running Bamboos

Notations used here are in the same style as those used for the clumping bamboos.

Genus Species	Common Name	Light Req'd	Min Temperature (F)	Max Height (FT)	Landscape Uses	Comments	Photo
top	Arundinaria gigantea gigantea River Cane	***	-10F	20'		native to USA (including Texas)
Arundinaria gigantea tecta	Switch Cane	**	-10F	6'		native to USA, tolerates wet areas	(photo)
>>runners>>>top
	Indocalamus sp. good ground cover, aggressive,  possible for hedges
Indocalamus latifolius		*	0 F	10'		long leaves
Indocalamus latifolius	‘Solidus'	*	-5 F	8'		long leaves, solid culms
Indocalamus longiauritus		**	0 F	5'		large leaves and auricles, culms turn blackish-green
Indocalamus tessellatus		*	0 F	7'		leaves to 2'
>>runners>>>top
	Phyllostachys angusta Stone Bamboo	***	0F	22'		culms w/hard texture, good for furniture
Phyllostachys aurea	Golden Bamboo	***	0F	27'	F, H	culms with short internodes causing knobby appearance, tolerates trimming and drought	(photo & growth simulation)
Phyllostachys aurea	Golden Bamboo	***	0F	27'	F, H	culms striped & different colors
Phyllostachys aureosulcata	Yellow Groove bamboo	***	-10F	26'	F	culms slender, occasional zigzag, young culms green with yellow groove
Phyllostachys aureosulcata cultivars		***	-10F	26'-35'	F	culms of various colors
Phyllostachys bambusoides	Giant Japanese Timber Bamboo	***	5F	72'	F	culms large and straight
Phyllostachys bambusoides cultivars		***	5F	10'-48'	F	culms of various colors
Phyllostachys dulcis	Sweetshoot Bamboo	***	0F	40'		culms arch, tasty shoots
Phyllostachys glauca and cultivars		***	0F	34'	F	culms of various colors
Phyllostachys heteroclada cultivars		***	0F	18'-75'	F	some tolerate wet areas, some with zigzag culms, includes Moso	(photo & growth simulation)
Phyllostachys manii	'Decora'	***	-5F	30'	F	tolerates heat, cold, and drought
Phyllostachys meyeri		***	0F	33'		similar to P. aurea but without the short internodes
Phyllostachys nigra	Black Bamboo	**	0F	30'	F	culms turn jet black with age, needs some shade	(photo & growth simulation)
Phyllostachys nigra	'Henon'	***	0F	65'		culms green, tolerates drought & amended clay,	(photo & growth simulation)
Phyllostachys nigra cultivars		**	-5F-0F	12'-65'	F	culms of different colors stripes & spots
Phyllostachys rubromarginata		***	-5F	55'		tolerates cold dry winds
Phyllostachys violascens		***	0F	20'	F	culms blackish-violet possibly w/violet stripes
Phyllostachys viridis	'Robert Young'	***	0F	40'	H	culms turn gold with green stripes, drought tolerant
Phyllostachys vivax		***	-5F	70'		culmsturn gray green with white beneath nodes
>>runners>>>top
	Pleioblastus fortunei Dwarf Whitestripe Bamboo	*	-10F	4'	F	variegated lvs., ground cover
Pleioblastus hindsii		**	0F	15'		leaveslong, narrow, erect and grasslike
Pleioblastus pygmaeaus		**	10F	2'		very small leaves, ground cover
>>runners>>>top
	Pseudosasa amabilis Tonkin Cane, Teastick Bamboo	***	10F	50'		straight, nodes not prominent, good fishing poles		(photo & growth simulation)
Pseudosasa japonica	Arrow Bamboo	**	0F	18'		culms erect, large leaves, tolerates wet and dry areas	(photo & growth simulation)
>>runners>>>top
	Sasa sp.	*	most are hardy to -5-0F	2'-7'	H	good ground covers, can be mowed or trimmed
>>runners>>>top
	Sasaella sp.	**	-5-0F	6'-10'	H	good ground covers, can be mowed or trimmed
>>runners>>>top
	Semiarundinaria fastuosa Narihira Bamboo	***	-5F	30'	F	straight erect culms turn purplish brown with age, drought tolerant
Semiarundinaria yashadake	'Kimmei'	***	0F	25'	F	as above w/yellow culm & leaf stripes
>>runners>>>top
	Shibatea sp.	**	-10 to -5 F	2'-7'	F	good ground covers
>>runners>>>top

Bamboo in Outdoor Containers

When selecting bamboos for outdoor containers, use the lists of recommended clumping and running bamboos for Texas.
 

Indoor Bamboo and Bonsai

Information listed here includes the following.
Genus species 'Cultivar' Common Name
Indoor light requirement minimums are listed below as:
          *** = Bright direct light, at least 6 hours/day
           ** = Bright indirect light, preferably 4-6 hours/day
             * = Moderate indirect light, less than 4 hours/day.
Maximum height in [feet]:

Expect them to grow much shorter indoors than they would outside in optimal conditions. Large plants may reach only 20% of the height listed here, and smaller plants may reach only 60-70% of the height listed here. Indoor growth heights are not well established, so the heights listed here are for mature plants grown outside.

Last updated on February 26, 2005

Technical help from Bich Tran . . . it worked when he sent it to me, before I messed with it!
By Steve Muzos
Bamboo email to:  gardentex@hotmail.com
smuzos@austincc.edu for ACC email