BAMBOO varieties
We have been growing bamboo on our Whidbey Island farm for the last several years and are now preparing rhizome (root) propagations for sale as landscaping plants. We have specimens of the clumping variety - 'the bamboo that behaves' and the notoriously 'invasive' running bamboo that sends out underground rhizomes as far as the plant is tall. All the varieties we grow are temperate to zone 8 which are hardy to minimums of 5 to minus 20 degrees f. Our main interests have been in the timber varieties that grow 30 to 50 feet tall with canes up to 3 inches wide. Running varieties can be controlled by installing a root barrier available at most nurseries or grown in pots which will slow down its growth. Bamboo vigorously sends out new shoots after the average temperature starts exceeding 50 degrees and needs plenty of water during its summer growth.
CLUMPING BAMBOOS
We currently are growing 4 varieties of clumping - 'the bamboo that behaves' - bamboos that are extremely hardy, having come from the mountains of China. These plants are more shade loving than the others we grow and do not do well in full sun.
CHUSQUEA Culeou - Clumping bamboo from Chile, hardy, culms range from green to red tinged. Height to 15'.
DREPANOSTACHYUM Falcatum var. Sengteeanum - A mountain bamboo from the Himalayas, bright green culms, papery thin leaves. Height to 9'.
FARGESIA Apicirubens - Red-Tipped Bamboo A shade loving clumper from the alpine conifer forests of China. Height to 16'.
FARGESIA Murieliae - Umbrella Bamboo Similar to F. nitida (below) but with green culms. Height to 15'.
FARGESIA Nitida - Fountain Bamboo Upright thick grey culms becoming nearly black. Sheaths orange-ribbed. Height to 12'.
FARGESIA Nitida Nymphenburg - Nymphenburg Differs from the type by narrow leaves, strongly arching culms and young branches ascending.
FARGESIA Nitida 'Jiuzhaigou' - Culms tend to red spectrum, often intense maroon.
FARGESIA Dracocephala Rufa - Rufa Upright thick grey culms becoming nearly black. Sheaths orange-ribbed. Height to 12'
FARGESIA Robusta - Sun loving clumper, culms tend to golden. Height to 16'.
FARGESIA Scabrida - Orange sheaths, purplish culms, upright sunloving clumper from Sichuan.
YUSHANIA Brevipaniculata - A spreading pachymorph that has longer rhizomes than typical clumpers from Taiwan. Height to 6'.
RUNNING BAMBOO VARIETIES AVAILABLE:
CHIMONOBAMBUSA Tumidissinoda - Walking Stick Bamboo A rare Chinese bamboo noted for its inflated culm nodes. Very vigorous, gracefull arching culms, height to 20'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Angusta - Stone Bamboo Very thick-walled green culms used in furniture. Culms to 1.5", height to 22'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Atrovaginata - Incense Bamboo Green erect culms with tasty shoots. Culms to 2.5", height to 35'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Aurea -Golden 'Koi' Golden culms with green stripes at the culm grooves. Culms to 1.75", height to 27'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Aureosulcata - Yellow Groove Green culms with yellow stripes at culm grooves, occasional crooked stems. Vigorous grower. Culms to 1.5", height to 26'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Aureosulcata Aureocaulis - Golden Crooked Stem Yellow culms with green stripes. Culms to 1.5", height to 26'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Bambusoides - Madake Vigorous growing giant Japanese timber bamboo with green culms to 6", height to 72'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Bambusoides - Allgold Smaller cousin of Madake with deep golden culms. Culms to 2", height to 35'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Bambusoides - Castillon Golden culms with green grooves, occasional striped leaves. Culms to 2", height to 35'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Edulis - Moso Giant Chinese timber bamboo with green culms to 6", height to 75'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Edulis - Gold Stripe Moso A new moso seedling that shows gold striation. Size to type.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Nigra - Black Bamboo After the first year the green culms turn deep black in full sun. Culms to 2", height to 30'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Nigra - Bory Also known as 'Snakeskin Bamboo' for the black spots on the culms. Culms to 3", height to 50'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Nigra - Henon Green culms to 4", height to 65'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Nigra - Megurochiku Green culms with a black stripe at culm grooves. Culms to 3.5", height to 54'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Vivax - Vivax A very vigorous green-culmed timber bamboo. Culms to 5", height to 70'.
PHYLLOSTACHYS Vivax Aureocaulis - Green Stripe Vivax A vivax with yellow culms and green stripes. Culms to 5", height to 70'.
PLEIOBLASTUS Japonica - Arrow Bamboo Green culms with extremly large leaves, less invasive than other runners. The culms were used in ancient Japan to make arrows.
SEMIARUNDINARIA Fastuosa - Red Fastuosa A Medium sized runner with cylindrical culms that age to purplish brown. Culms to 1.5", height to 30'.
SEMIARUNDINARIA Fastuosa Viridis - Green Fastuosa A green culmed fastuosa.