Phyllostachys Species, Chinese Timber Bamboo, Elegant Bamboo, Running Bamboo

I’ve been enjoying this bamboo since 1970. A nice forest in Nashville TN was started in 1963ish. The culms are 5” diameter and 55�...Read More� tall at their max (only the top 10% of canes). The average size is only 4” diameter and 48’ tall. A very graceful evergreen bamboo. I’ve worked in it many days the past 45 years, and transplanted some to my different homes over the years. I transplanted giant canes to my present estate 14 years ago, and now I have about 700 beautiful canes growing here at http://www.WhiteHouseArboretum.com . My main problem here at a higher elevation than Nashville, is ice storms. I have 100 to 200 canes break per year. Otherwise, the bamboo is very cold hardy and magnificent. I posted a few pix in the photo section. Thank you, Randy Allen.

In 2009, a visit to a bamboo nursery (Bear Creek) in Eureka Springs confirmed we have indeed been growing Phyllostachys vivax. In...Read Moreitially, we dug the bamboo from a friend's grove in 2005 during weather that was too warm, dragged the roots home, chopped them into entirely too small of sections and plunked them into an area far less than satisfactory. Real amateurs.

Somehow, the bamboo survived, but we did not see any real activity for four years. Suddenly, shoots popped out of the ground and shot for the sky, in a matter of days. No kidding.

With a bit of reading, we came to understand that bamboo is busy making roots underground. After all, one cannot expect a chunk of root to have the energy to send up 30-35 foot tall shoots the first year. Keep in mind, it can reach well more than twice this height with the right conditions. It does take time to grow and store the energy to do such magnificent growing. Be patient, water and wait, it will happen.

If you don't like where it shoots up after a few years, simply mow the oddball shoots down or dig them up & give to a friend.

Our vivax grove is now five years old, and very well established. Spring of 2010, we have counted 35 new shoots as of May 3. Each day's measurement is even bigger than the last.

We are so happy to know that we have vivax, and hope to add even more. It makes a very impressive grove and we cannot wait until next year. Each year will bring an even better show!

Karen Marie

I planted 5 along the rear of my property to create a bamboo woods blocking my view of my neighbor's yard but it has only grown about one...Read More cane per plant per year. I was expecting it to take off and give me a bamboo screening fast. Should I check the PH or fertilize it?

This plant has made every effort to take over my yard. It has been a real pain.