A report on how things are growing.... let me start by saying that the last two winters with their back to back polar vortexes have not helped! I have a number of varieties that can get big if not killed to the ground over and over. My two biggest are P. Aureosulcata Spectabilis and P. Aureosulcata....

I'm in SE Ohio. I've got 20 some varieties in the ground. I've also got some in pots in the greenhouse I could part with too. Any particular variety you're looking for?

I have a few Aureosulcata forms. For me the one that seems to geniculate the most is Spectabilis. They almost always do it starting with the first few nodes out of the ground. DSC03246.JPG DSC03314.JPG Sometimes they bend so far over that they touch the ground! The ones that go that far don't seem t...

I managed to get two seedlings from my Tsuboi flowering a few years ago that were variegated and have been growing them out in pots since. DSC03390.JPG You can see in the two pots in the background a few non-variegated seedlings. They seem to be a bit more vigorous compared the variegated ones, but ...

I kind of was surprised. I've read that sometimes that will happen when a plant flowers completely. I just didn't expect it. From an above-ground perspective it was 100% DEAD! Nevertheless, I'm glad it made it; plus I got two varigated seedlings out of the deal!

All of my 3 plantings of Tsuboi flowered and died... or so I thought! The biggest planting that flowered last died to the ground and I just let all the seed that fell and sprouted in its place grow. They grew all last summer. All were green except for two seedlings that were variegated which I separ...

I'm in zone 6 in Ohio. I've got about 15 different varieties in the ground. Spectabilis is hands down my favorite! I really like two Sasas also - Oshidensis and Palmata. They do well and always look good.

I'm glad I read this thread. I'd never heard of Caryn Rickel before. She's scary! I was unaware that I was taking my life in my hands by having bamboo!

I'll think twice before I let my nieces and nephews play in my grove again!

I've got Spectabilis and it seems that about 1/4 of the shoots abort when anywhere from 6 to 18 inches tall. There doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason to it. Some people talk about deliberately snapping some shoots to promote others. I never have. I think plants pretty well know how to grow themselve...

I had Spectabilis, Aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis', Aureosulcata and a few others just endure a night of 25.5 last week covered with sheets on the short ones and sawhorses with sheets over them covering the ones up about 2' and everything's fine and still growing this week! There was HEAVY frost on the s...

Yeah, I know what you mean. My Uncle lives in the Toledo area and his weather is always worse! The bottom line is that if you want a 12' tall clumping bamboo in a line that long, it's probably not going to happen. That's why I suggested a running bamboo. Don't be scared by horror stories. They can e...

Instead of a barrier of concrete or other material; do you have access on all sides to the site on which you want to plant this bamboo? If so it's easy to contain with rhizome pruning. I keep my Spectabilis inside a large oval that way. I decided when I planted it 5 years ago how much ground I wante...

I live in southeastern Ohio (zone 6 also) and have over 20 kinds of bamboo. Some in the ground, some potted. Fargesia will stay short but get wide in my experience. My best performing specimen is one growing in my woods not out in the open. My out an out best performer is Spectabilis. This spring it...

I decided to dig it up and put it in a pot. It seems to be liking it. It's increased in size and is putting out a horizontal shoot (which seems to be a precursor to beginning rhizome growth that I've seen seedlings do). Also, I found another variegated seedling further away from the planting site! :...

Here's two more...