Semiarundinaria

This Bamboo is native to Japan. Bamboos need moist soil all the time, especially when weather is dry. They are great for planting in wetlands and near rivers and streams. S. fastuosa grows up to 40 feet in height. It has hollow stems that are variegated with purplish-brown. Its glossy green leaves have a bluish hue underneath and they grow up to 7 inches long and an inch wide. This Bamboo is fairly hardy over much of North America.

Pot Cultivation

Spring is the best time to plant this variety of Bamboo. It should be grown in moist, rich soil consisting of light or moderately heavy loam. It can be grown in full sun but will do much better in light shade. In the spring, the oldest shoots or those with dying tops, should be completely cut out. After pruning, they should be washed off with a hose. Old plants will benefit from a top-dressing of manure once in a while. The best canes that have been cut out at pruning time can be trimmed and used as stakes for the garden.

Propagation

They can be increased by division in the spring. Pieces of stem can also be set down in a propagating case in the spring to produce shoots from the joints of the canes. Bamboos die a year or two after flowering, which is every 30 to 40 years, so look for seeds on flowering plants.

S. fastuosa.

VARIETIES

• S. fastuosa.