Bambusa ventricosa Budda belly

[Flashburn]

What is going to happen if I buy some and plant it? I like it becuase it can get large.


I am in an area of around 8 zone or 7b.


Is it going to die?

And is there a bamboo thats a clumper that will do ok and get some size to it?


I think the answer is no......

[Mike McG]

Flashburn,
Assuming you want something larger than B. multiplex, then if you want to experiment, you might want to try B. textilis. In Texas it appears to more successful in handling minimum winter temperatures than B. tuldoides and B.tuldoides appears slightly hardier than B. ventricosa. That being said there does appear to be enough differences between plants of the same species that this may not be always the case. Also bamboo appears to get slightly harder with age the longer they grow in a cold climate.

It is possible for bamboo to grow as a die-back perennial. This is probably not what you want, but I would expect it would be easier to divide for swapping.

My impression is that Bambusa likes hot weather to grow so a zone 8a/7b that has a cool spring/summer/fall I expect maybe a deadly combination.

Mike near Brenham TX

[foxd]

Flashburn, I suspect the Buddha Belly may survive your winters, it does seem to be pretty tuff. Though I'm not sure how it would look in the Spring.

I have been testing one in Zone 5b/6a to see how it handles the Southern Indiana winters. So far it did get set back by its first winter, but it looks surprisingly good at the moment. It will be interesting to see if it sizes up next Spring.

I have a suspicion that there are a number of genetically different B. ventricosa in the U.S. with differing Hardiness.

[mike best]

Interesting temperature experiments with B. Vent. If its roots take hold might make an interesting bamboo up there.

Also what about Bambusa textilis 'Kanapaha'. This site list min. at 17 while B. Vent. min. is listed at 21.

[Bamboo4me]

For a Clumper, I think everyone is on the right path. Textilis has the best chance. Mine has gone down to 15 or maybe lower, with a slight leaf burn. It takes wind very well also. (the wind comment is with mine topped as it was a transplant that was around 35-40 feet tall and I topped to 20. But the new culms around 20 feet did fine. I think mine might be Bambusa textilis 'Kanapaha' as it doesn't get a branch until it's 10+ feet up. Anyone have any experience with good old regular Textilis and the branch level starting point?

[jordanM]

Interesting temperature experiments with B. Vent. If its roots take hold might make an interesting bamboo up there.

Also what about Bambusa textilis 'Kanapaha'. This site list min. at 17 while B. Vent. min. is listed at 21.

Mike what bamboo is that in the picture, it is awesome?

[CJ_IS_HERE]

Hi, the Min listing of 21 I must disagree with. My B.Vs in the ground have not been in the mid 20s here in NC but they do die off. So the rating of 21 I disagree with. Mine come back soon as it warms up though.
Blessings

Anyone have a slice of Textillis by chance?

[Roy]

Hi, the Min listing of 21 I must disagree with. My B.Vs in the ground have not been in the mid 20s here in NC but they do die off. So the rating of 21 I disagree with. Mine come back soon as it warms up though.
Blessings

Anyone have a slice of Textillis by chance?

CJ,

Not quite sure if you have the same B. ventricosa we have here in Florida. If your plant dies back before it gets to the mid 20's, which may mean 27 or 28 F, then that doesn't happen to the B. ventricosa we have here in Florida.

[CJ_IS_HERE]

Hi Roy, Well Momma Plant was from St. Petersburgh Fl. From Garden Magiks collection. and high 20s mine drop leaves like crazy. Have several though that show no signs at all. All from same Mother out of Fl. Strange huh?

Blessings,

[Roy]

Hi Roy, Well Momma Plant was from St. Petersburgh Fl. From Garden Magiks collection. and high 20s mine drop leaves like crazy. Have several though that show no signs at all. All from same Mother out of Fl. Strange huh?

Blessings,

Sounds like what my B. v. 'Wamin' does when it get slightly below 30 F. I feel sure we have been through this before on whether the identity is ventricosa or vulgaris 'Wamin'.

[Flashburn]

I can see where this is going. I start out with a few plants then I go crazy trying a bunch.

Well at least I see how this is going down. Now I just need to figure out what I can grow that others will trade for. Lets see. F robusta and P nigra.

Lucky for me I have a spot picked out where I can put in the big dog.
MOSO! Oh so big MOSO! and a spot to let my nigra get as big as it will get.
Henon was also suggested for my area.

PS 4 days till I move into my new 3 acres out in the middle of nowhere yet 30 minutes from my home town.

Hell I might even try oldhammi. Altho since I will probably kill it maybe i should call it too young to die hammi.

[Flashburn]

Heh, I see I wont be trading any of my budda's to roy.


Very healthy looking plants!

[Roy]

Heh, I see I wont be trading any of my budda's to roy.


Very healthy looking plants!

Yea, but that picture was of Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin'.

[CJ_IS_HERE]

Heh, I see I wont be trading any of my budda's to roy.


Very healthy looking plants!

Yea, but that picture was of Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin'.

Roy, none of my "Buddahs" have that belly look that your pics do. None as compressed as those in the pic. The guy i got them from in Fl has been cloning or whatever experiements hes been dabling in to get a faster productiion for sales and knows them inside and out so I have noo doubt that these are B.V Buddahs... I also have a Wamin from him and it looks like your pics...smaller but very close to identical.
I think I still have pics in the gallery.
Blessings

[boonut]

After growing B. Vulgaris "wamin" for about 5 or 6 years, the new shoots "now in heavy shade" are no longer putting up bellied culms... very similar to what I saw at Quail Botanical Gardens in California.