A large, fast-growing, evergreen bamboo, clump-forming then spreading, and about 8m tall. Upright, rich green canes to 7cm across, the emerging shoots dark red, maturing have vertical stripes in shades of yellow and yellow-green, with narrow tapered mid-green leaves 12-15cm long
8-12 metres
wider than 8 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade. Protect from cold drying winds. In a container grow in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost and feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly during the growing season. May remain clump-forming in poor or dry soils but has the potential to become a nuisance in warm, moist or favourable conditions; see bamboo control and bamboo cultivation
Propagate by division in spring
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
May be susceptible to damage from slugs on new growth
Generally disease-free