New to Forum

[Willow87]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I've always had an interest in bamboo and I'm going to look for some next year, because i want to have a privacy screen. I live in North Texas where its hot and dry during summer and winters can be mild some years. I've seen a few people around here that grow it but I dont know what type it is.


Cameron

[Alan_L]

Welcome! There are probably several species that will work for you, depending on how you feel about supplemental watering. Do you know what USDA hardiness zone you're in? This map should help if you don't:

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html

[Willow87]

Thanks Alan! I'm in zone 8a

[ghmerrill]

We have a few members who are frequent contributors, from the southern portions of texas, but they may be able to chime in with some suggestions for you.

[Willow87]

Thank you ghmerrill. I have seen a couple of small bamboo groves around here, one is just growing in the wild. I dont know what type either are. But they are beautiful plants

[ghmerrill]

In your neck of the woods, a safe bet would be phyllostachys aurea, Golden bamboo.

[Mackel in DFW]

Large culms for Dallas- Phyllostachys bambusoides and phyllostachys viridis (?). Both supposedly do very well in alkaline soil. We have eleven species total planted but it will be a few more years before I can come up with a definitive list of what does well here in DFW.

P. glauca, P. mannii, P. aurea, and S. fastuosa reportedly handle alkalinity very well, also, but are smaller, culm-wise, and remain in pots on our property. If you want to check out a maxed out P. aurea grove, a ubiquitous species here, go to the Japanese garden area at Ft Worth Arboretum, right next to the restaurant there.


Regards,
Mackel in DFW

[Willow87]

Thank you Mackel. I've heard alot about Golden Goddess and its a nice bamboo plant. I'm going to try to look for some next year or see if anyone around here has some that they need under control. Wow you have eleven species?! I've never grown bamboo but i was wondering how fast it grows? I have read that sometimes it can grow an inch or more a day, is that true?

[marcat]

P.aurea is "Golden Bamboo" or Fishing cane boo...Golden Goddess is a Bambusa multiplex a clumper. The most cold hardy of the Tropical Bamboo might work up there...what is your experiance with the B.multiplexes Mackel?
MarCat

[Willow87]

oh ok, I like the coloring of Golden bamboo.

[Mackel in DFW]

I don't have any experience with clumpers, Marcat. Last winter it got down to 14 farenheit, so I'm not really sure I should be taking up space with clumpers.

Regards,
Mackel in DFW

[Bamboo Outlaw]

Even the multiplex will top kill in DFW some winters.

[Mackel in DFW]

Willow-

It's very interesting how bamboo grows. There are three parts to bamboo, roots, rhizomes, and culms. Roots grow deep, rhizomes grow laterally, and culms grow vertically. The plant produces starch within the rhizomes, so when it does grow culms, it's very fast and brief, up to an inch an hour in some cases.

You should read about it for a thorough understanding of the mechanics, not hard to do on the internet or at your local library. There are three functions to bamboo, as well, one being aesthetics, another as a supply of building material, and third, as a food source. The emerging culms are an excellent source of carbohydrates and protein, and a delicacy in the asian culture. Yum yum.

In the western world, we mostly grow bamboo for aesthetic purposes, the boldness of the culms contrasted with the delicate canopy of it's leaves, are a remarkable sight to behold; the beauty of this contrast is only enhanced as time goes by, with a flush of new, larger culms that grow skyward for about six weeks each year. The rest of the year, the plant is developing starch and root mass underground to enable this brief, rapid above-ground growth rate.

Regards,
Mackel in DFW

[Willow87]

Thanks Mackel. I will definitely do more research on bamboo growth rate. I like the Koi bamboo and I may look for that next year. That one has become one of my favorites. That and Black bamboo. Thanks again for the information Mackel

Cameron