which phyllostachys has bigger leaves?

[berklady]

Hi Bamboo People- I'm about to buy a phyll. to grow more as a clump, and I'd like to purchase one with good diam (above 2"), green culms, and big leaves. I've narrowed it down to ph. bambusoides madake or vivax- which one has larger leaves? Or is there another phyll. which will fill my desires better?
Ideally i'd like a clumper, but i can't seem to find any that will survive in winter temps down to 15, and summer temps up to 95? Any suggestions?
Thanks a ton!

[mito0]

i don't know of a phyllostachys with particularly large leaves. some indocalamus, sasa and pseudosasa have good-sized leaves (a foot or longer) and will survive well below 15F.
a clumper you might want to check out is fargesia dracocephala 'rufa.' it tolerates heat well and is hardy to well below zero. it's not suited for full sun, though, so that's something to consider. oh, and it has pretty small leaves...

here's a nice shot of indocalamus tassellatus' huge leaves:

http://www.bambooweb.info/ShowPictures2 ... Cat=*&s=18

[Iowaboo]

I've narrowed it down to ph. bambusoides madake or vivax- which one has larger leaves? Or is there another phyll. which will fill my desires better?

I'm thinking this is your topic over on gardenweb.........
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load ... 28.html?11

Average leaf lengths:
P. bambusoides: 6 inches

P. edulis: 2 1/2 inches

P. nigra 'Henon': 3 1/2 inches

P. vivax: 5 inches

according to Michael Bell, The Gardener's Guide to Growing TEMPERATE BAMBOOS (Timber Press)

[needmore]

You might take a look at Bashania fargesii, a happy specimen will approach 30 feet by 2 inches and it has pretty large leaves. Although not a Phyllostachys it looks similar, upright fat culms with a pretty blue blush on new culms. I can't wait for mine to get some size. Not sure if this site has photos of mature culms. Also keep an eye on this one, it likes to wander.

[Roy]

You might take a look at Bashania fargesii, ...snip... Not sure if this site has photos of mature culms. Also keep an eye on this one, it likes to wander.

Bashania fargesii
<img src="http://www.bambooweb.info/images/bamboo ... esii_2.jpg" alt="Bashania fargesii ">
<img src="http://www.bambooweb.info/images/bamboo/B.fargesia.jpg" alt="Bashania fargesii ">
<img src="http://www.bambooweb.info/images/bamboo/B.fargesii3.jpg" alt="Bashania fargesii ">

[needmore]

Thanks Roy, that Chinabamboo photo is a real stunner. I recall an issue of the ABS magazine awhile back having pictures of 2 inch+ culms growing in Switzerland. The grove at Jos' is quite handsome and very upright culms well over an inch, I'm not sure if this is correct but on his beautiful tour link on the home page at www.kimmei.com somewhere around photo 19? is a blue culm species that may be his B farg...its worth the tour to see his artful photos

[Roy]

Thanks Roy, that Chinabamboo photo is a real stunner. I recall an issue of the ABS magazine awhile back having pictures of 2 inch+ culms growing in Switzerland. The grove at Jos' is quite handsome and very upright culms well over an inch, I'm not sure if this is correct but on his beautiful tour link on the home page at www.kimmei.com somewhere around photo 19? is a blue culm species that may be his B farg...its worth the tour to see his artful photos

You talking about this one? (May take a moment to load)

[needmore]

Yes, thats the one...I'm not convinced it is the B farg but it looks like what I remember and it is in the right area of his place.

[Iowaboo]

Bashania is such a good kid. But I dug mine up after total leafburn and culm kill each year, and potted them. I didn't run as much as any phyllostachys, so for whatever reason, phyllostachys are my best runners.

[berklady]

Very gorgeous bashania photos- whats their leaf length? do you think that it would do well with high summer temps coupled with very low humidity? And then cold winters, down to 15 or so? Thanks for the info - berklady

[igrowbamboo]

How about semiarundinaria okuboi?

[berklady]

I think I'll start with the phyll. bambusoides bc the leaves are big and it seems like it will handle the sun, and also the cold better than the others. The bashania looks beautiful, but rates a 4 out of 5 on the sun exposure chart, and the spot i'm starting with is direct sun.

[needmore]

Of those species mentioned I think that Bambusoides is the least cold tolerant and slow to establish. I recall Roger Lewis saying his starts to show leaf burn around +20F despite 'ratings' that say otherwise. The subspecies are less sensitive, the Slendercrookstem is purported to be one of the hardiest and mine does not make it here so I've never even tried the type form. Vivax gets fussy around +5F, the Bashania hold some leaves to -5F and all do fine in full sun. Okuboi is another good choice for large leaves but the culms remain pretty slender and it does not get very tall.

The sun ratings are generally ignorable among the tall species, get what you like the best and go for it.

[ChrisB]

I would second the suggestion of Semiarundinaria okuboi although not for a windy site - it gets a bit tatty looking for part of the year.

My other suggestion is Fargesia robusta "Wolong". Clumping and big leaves.

[berklady]

Thanks for the suggestion-The semiarundinaria okuboi does have nice big leaves, but it doesn't have the culm girth i'm looking for. On the species table, it lists its diameter as 3.8 cm, and i'm hoping for something closer to 3inches for the spot i have in mind. But i do have a lot more space now, so in the future when i have more dinero, i'll definitely give her a go. Thanks a ton!