Randy Allen of Tennessee. I purchased my first dig of Henon from McIlhenny Island Lousiana back in the mid 70’s. Ten years later I wi...Read Moretnessed my grove go to seed (a rare occurrence) in the mid 80’s, then it mostly died back. It took a few years to come back to normal. Now I have a thousand or so wonderful canes in my mature grove. After studying and growing the temperate climate bamboos 54 years, I believe I like Henon about the best for TN. Here it gets 3” caliper and 40’ tall and is very cold hardy and prolific. High percentage of straight canes and good quality wood. I’ll try to post pix soon. Thank you.
Randy Allen of http://www.WhiteHouseArboretum.com
This is one of the few hardiest timber bamboos. In some climates, mature stands may produce stems (culms) as tall as 50' with 4" diamete...Read Morer, having timber value.
It's distinguished from other forms of the species by a gray film covering the stems (culms) which peels off after harvesting as the poles cure. The foliage is deep green.
This is a running bamboo. In most garden/landscape circumstances, the roots need to be confined by a deep root barrier 30" deep in order to control its rapid spread.
Mature plants may possibly be hardy to Z6a.
Most commercial sources list this as a cultivar. The RHS lists it as P. nigra f. henonis, and has given it its coveted Award of Garden Merit.
Like most bamboos, it is monocarpic, but only blooms once after many decades.
I planted 5 - 5 gallons in a row. after the first winter almost lost 2 but they recovered. Proven to be very cold hardy just bent back an...Read Mored covered with tarp for some winter protection nothing else. Cant wait to have a mature grove of these in Illinois !!!
Purchased a five gallon pot of Henon from bearcreeknursery.net on May 30, 2009. The plant was dug up and potted, then spent a few days in...Read More the car, a month in the pot and then planted in summer heat.
Don't confuse the 'nigra' term with the bamboo being black, it is not.
It is now April 11, 2010. The bamboo not only performed well, but in the last few days our miniature 'grove' has now sprouted over a dozen shoots, including several which are four feet from the initial planting. Needless to say, hubby and I looked at the number of shoots and the extent to which this small two gallon plant traveled well, thinking we may have created a monster. We are very pleased!
Update. It is now May 4, 2012. About to upload a new image to show the spread and growth of our Henon, which is filling in quite nicely!
Randy Allen of Tennessee. I purchased my first dig of Henon from McIlhenny Island Lousiana back in the mid 70’s. Ten years later I wi...Read More
This is one of the few hardiest timber bamboos. In some climates, mature stands may produce stems (culms) as tall as 50' with 4" diamete...Read More
I believe the real name for this plant is not Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon' but Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis.
I planted 5 - 5 gallons in a row. after the first winter almost lost 2 but they recovered. Proven to be very cold hardy just bent back an...Read More
Purchased a five gallon pot of Henon from bearcreeknursery.net on May 30, 2009. The plant was dug up and potted, then spent a few days in...Read More