Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Kew Beauty'

RHS Plant Profile
thamnocalamus 'Kew Beauty'

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Synonyms

Fargesia crassinoda 'Kew'

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Bamboos
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Upright, arching evergreen bamboo forming large, spreading clumps to 6m tall, with upright blue-grey young canes which age to brownish-red then deep red, and bearing very small, greyish-green leaves 5cm long

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, 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

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–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)
H3

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, Spreading branched
Genus
Thamnocalamus are graceful, vigorous, clump-forming evergreen bamboos. Thick, hollow canes may be covered by a waxy, glaucous blue-white bloom, and bear small greyish-green leaves
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in sun or part shade, tolerant of most soils but best in well-drained conditions. Suited to warmer climates with frost-free weather only. See bamboo cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division of established clumps in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Sub-tropical
  • Hedging and screens

Pruning

Thin clumps by removing older canes in spring as young canes emerge

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free