Matt's 9b field note
“Upright, tight-clumping bamboo for the privacy screen.”
Background
A species native to Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Yunnan, China. The common name comes from its traditional planting around Thai Buddhist monasteries. One of the most useful bamboos in its native range, harvested for strong nearly-solid culms used in construction and for edible shoots ('Tiger Sweet Shoots').
Distinguishing traits
Very tight-clumping bamboo with thick-walled, nearly solid upright culms (2-4 in diameter), persistent culm sheaths, and fine narrow leaves forming an umbrella-like canopy. Matures 20-40 ft (smaller clones ~20 ft). New shoots emerge purple and age from green to yellow-brown. Extremely compact footprint for its height.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- n/a — ornamental
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 24-25°F (-4°C) once established; keep soil on the dry side during frost and protect young plants.
- Heat tolerance
- Excellent tropical heat tolerance; thrives in 120°F summers with regular water.
- Water
- Moderate; prefers regular moisture with good drainage. Mulch heavily.
- Soil
- Adaptable to sand, loam, or clay; prefers moist, well-drained, mildly acidic to neutral soil.
- Sun exposure
- Full sun to partial shade; protect first-year plants from scorching afternoon sun.