Large super tall privacy screen

[Robbie78]

Hi so I sold my house and left most of my bamboos and am eager to start a new grove and I need a big tall privacy screen around 35-50 feet tall. My first thought is vivax I here it grows fast and up sizes quick but it's kinda weak. My new zip code will be 97023 which I think is 8a but we get a lot of rain. My other thought is Madake which I here up sizes slow but is strong Any suggestions would be great. Thanks. Oh and the size of the area is 40x10 ft

[JWH]

Hey Robbie78!

Glad to talk to another bamboo grower from the Pacific Northwest! I live in Western Washington.

Your right about vivax being weaker especially when it comes to heavy wet snow. I grow vivax aureocaulis and the inversa form, both are growing quickly here. Snow has broken a fair share of my vivax's culms this year and in previous winters. The plants still are able to put up larger shoots in the spring. Sometimes I'll try to splint the broken culms if the break isn't too bad. I would only use Vivax as a privacy screen if its acceptable that you might lose portions to winter breakage.

I also grow plain green Madake aka Bambusoides, it actually was my very first bamboo! I planted it in the spring of 2005. Growth has been slow but steady it's tallest culms are about 24'. I've only had 2 culms break in snow in 8 years! It was this winter with 20+ inches. One problem I have with it is that it wants to act like a clumping bamboo! I've yet to see it send out a rhizome longer than a foot or so. I've read that it can take 15-20 years to get 40+ tall in cooler climates. I took some pictures of mine recently that i'll attach.

I've been most impressed with Phyllostachys Iridescens. I planted a 1 gallon size plant in 2009. Last years culms were 24' tall and almost 1.5" thick. Bamboo Garden nursery has a page with good pics of it: http://www.bamboogarden.com/Phyllostach ... escens.htm

Phyllostachys Nigra Henon or Nigra Bory might be other options also.

Hope that helps!
Jesse

[needmore]

Advice from folx in your area is certainly the way to go, here I'd say rubromarginata without hesitation, it went 40'ish and produces lots of 30+'ers (I've cut down dozens of them recently.) Happy henon as suggested should also get tall.

[Robbie78]

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it

[JWH]

Rubromarginata should do well, its 30+ at bamboo garden.
http://www.bamboogarden.com/Phyllostach ... ginata.htm

My rubro plant is still pretty young, but so far so good! Very upright grower which I like. New shoots aren't bad looking either

[Robbie78]

Here's some vivax in Portland, talk about blockage

[JWH]

Thats cool to see giant vivax in what looks like a pretty small space. I hope someday i'll have bamboo that size!