Pseudosasa japonica

RHS Plant Profile

arrow bamboo

Other common names

metake

Synonyms

Bambusa metake
Arundinaria japonica

Bamboos

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A vigorous and tough, spreading, evergreen bamboo to 6m in height, forming a thicket of olive-green canes with copious narrow, shiny green leaves to 25cm in length

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Poaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming, Suckering
Genus: Pseudosasa are tall clump-forming to spreading evergreen bamboos which form large thickets of hollow canes and dark green, lance-shaped leaves; panicles of green or brownish flower spikelets may appear at any time of year
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Japan & Korea

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. Protect from cold drying winds. In favourably warm, moist conditions the creeping rootstock has the potential to become a nuisance. See bamboo control and bamboo cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division, divide clumps in spring, keep moist until established

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Coastal
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Remove weak, dead, damaged or spindly stems in spring and thin to show off stems to best effect. Cut out any flowering shoots promptly to discourage more from forming - see bamboo cultivation

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free