Bambusa, Golden Hawaiian Bamboo, Painted Bamboo, Striped Bamboo 'Vittata'

Paul Spillane wrote:
> "Golden Bamboo is (was) a chimera.. it was discovered in a clump of
> regular bamboo, in about the l...Read Moreast decade of the 1800's and has spread all
> over the world by people dividing up the plant. In other words, (according
> to him), ALL GOLDEN bamboo is a clone of that original piece (much like a
> Naval Orange).

Some or most of that may be true. Vulgaris Vittata is just the variegated form of Bambusa vulgaris which actual origins may not be known.

> Now,according to him, ALL bamboo takes close to a hundred
> years to flower, and after it does, the plant dies.
> Therefore, in around the first few years of 2000,
>
> ALL GOLDEN BAMBOO WILL DIE!!! (I was so impressed with this statement, I
> have all ways remembered it.) (inaccurately -or there is a flaw in the
> statement somewhere).
>
> I would like to hear someones comment on this
>

While it is true that some bamboos flower every 100 years and some bamboo species all seem to flower at once and die, I do not beieve that is the case with Vulgaris Vittata.

Noted author Ted Jordan says; "Bambusa vulgaris has never had a general flowering period. The few isolated B. vulgaris plants that have flowered failed to produce viable seed, yet the species is vigorous and apparently undiminished be the lack of genetic diversity."

> In my landscaping class,(many years ago) my instructor told me something
> that has always stuck with, and amazed me - To wit:...Read Morer /> >
> "Golden Bamboo is (was) a chimera.. it was discovered in a clump of
> regular bamboo, in about the last decade of the 1800's and has spread all
> over the world by people dividing up the plant. In other words, (according
> to him), ALL GOLDEN bamboo is a clone of that original piece (much like a
> Naval Orange). Now,according to him, ALL bamboo takes close to a hundred
> years to flower, and after it does, the plant dies. Therefore, in around
> the first few years of 2000,
>
> ALL GOLDEN BAMBOO WILL DIE!!! (I was so impressed with this statement, I
> have all ways remembered it.) (inaccurately -or there is a flaw in the
> statement somewhere).
>
> I would like to hear someones comment on this
>
> Paul Spillane

My golden Hawaiian was doing great, approx 25 feet tall, then we experienced a number of freezing nights. They look like they are dying f...Read Moreorm the top down. What should I do?
ByronC

I had this bamboo in a pot for 3 years (in Delhi, India, mostly a hot climate) where its growth remained stagnant.. I planted it in the c...Read Moreommon society garden behind my house in partial shade.. the culms now stand 30 ft tall providing a beautiful green view from both above (I live in a 3rd floor flat that looks down upon the clump) and below. The bamboos are regularly harvested by poor folk for use in their huts..