Dendrocalamus, Giant Black Bamboo 'Betung Hitam'

I'm growing 3 of these. This is a graceful addition to the garden's edge. I purchased a 3-gallon of this bamboo, along with B. Lako, Ange...Read Morel Mist, & some rare long-named cultivars, in the dry season of South Florida. I planted them in the ground after dividing. The Angel Mist died. All of the bamboo had an initial shock which lasted several months. This cultivar, however, did not go into shock and both culms produced shoots within a few weeks. I went to investigate further, to learn more about this beautiful bamboo, I went to a local bamboo nursery, Tropical Bamboo Gardens & Nursery, and found that these are not only as magestic as I imagined, the Betung Hitam is a black bamboo mega structure! I purchased a 7 cultivars, each in 7 gallon size, drove them home and placed them in pre-dug holes (not dividing this time). The leaves curled from being in the truck & traffic on all except the Betung Hitam & Yin Yang. With enough water, the leaves' stress settled and they all perked up as if they were not handled at all. Such a great, healthy collection! I recommend driving to Tropical Bamboo Gardens & Nursery to pick up 7+ gallon bamboos if you have the option.

This is a great plant. Grows fast, large diameter, straight culms. Large bright green leaves with black culms. Makes a statement.

There are some large clumping species of black bamboo but this one is by far the largest one of all hands down. It has just arrived...Read More in the Southern California Area and will soon apear in the local arboretums, which in a few years should be very impressive plants. I have one that is now 70+ feet tall and does not appear to be slowing down. It is a close relative of the D. asper and as such likes the climate here and thus gets extra big. Unlike it's relative it is not so easy to propogate and the only way to get new ones seems to be by clump division.