Indocalamus tessellatus

RHS Plant Profile

large-leaved bamboo

Dorling Kindersley Ltd

Synonyms

Pseudosasa hamadae
Arundinaria ragamowskii
Sasa tessellata

Bamboos

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An evergreen perennial that forms dense thickets of slender, bright green canes up to 2m tall. Glossy green leaves, up to 60cm long and 5-10cm wide, are the largest of all hardy bamboos and cause the canes to bend over under the weight of the foliage. Usually clump-forming in habit, it may become spreading in favourable conditions and need containing

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

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

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: 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: Columnar upright
Genus: Indocalamus are fairly small evergreen bamboos, initially clump-forming then becoming spreading with vigorous rhizomes; slender canes, usually with one branch at each node, bear thick glossy dark green leaves
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, ideally in light dappled shade but tolerant of sun if the soil is moist. In containers, use a peat-free, loam-based compost and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly during the growing season

Propagation

Propagate by division in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Patio and container plants
Cottage and informal garden
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Thin clumps by removing the oldest canes in spring as the young ones emerge

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free