Best Cold-hardy Dwarf Bamboo?

[oobmab]

Looking at dwarf bissettii for zone 6-7. Also considering the 8' river cane (not gigantica, or whatever it's called). Any others I should look at?

[oobmab]

Just read about Phyllostachys Humilis. Not familiar with this one, but it appears that it might do the job. Looks to be a little shorter than dwarf bissettii, but just as hardy. Any comments good or bad on this one?

[johnw]

P. humilis has been killed to the ground in outer suburbia here at -2F.

johnw - +11c, 50mm of rain today but the snowdrops are about ready to open.

[Matt W]

There are 4 patches of river cane within 2 miles of my house. It looks pretty tattered even in mild winters and most of the year here. Consider Indocalamus tessellatus. IT has done about as well as any I have this winter and I'm going to be moving most of it. IT shoots early, so give me a call if you are interested.

Matt

[oobmab]

P. humilis has been killed to the ground in outer suburbia here at -2F.

-2F for one night, or an extended period? Mature grove? Windy conditions?

[oobmab]

There are 4 patches of river cane within 2 miles of my house. It looks pretty tattered even in mild winters and most of the year here. Consider Indocalamus tessellatus. IT has done about as well as any I have this winter and I'm going to be moving most of it. IT shoots early, so give me a call if you are interested.

Matt

Hi Matt.

I. Tess won't get high enough for what I need. The one I got from you survived (I took no chances and put it inside), and I look forward to an upsize this year.

River cane does look like crap, but it is hardy and stays evergreen, forms a nice screen, and doesn't get too tall. And it's free.

Different subject now that I have you on the line: Have you ever noticed the large grove of timber bamboo south of Erwin at exit 40 on I-26? It looks like it got completely burned this winter.

[Matt W]

Yeah, But never stopped to look close. At 70 mph I thought it is YG. Just big, because it is growing in Nolichucky River bottom land. Do you believe it's some other species? YG here is only burned bad on the outside of the patch and very tops. Other wise it has retained about 80% green. I doubt Erwin was much colder.

[needmore]

Not sure shat height you are after but Sasa oshidensis is quite hardy, more so than I tess and has reached 6' in my yard. I think the form of Phy humilis in the US must not be the same as Europe, not very hardy. Dwarf biss here is 15'+ so not really dwarf. Phy varioauriculata & Phy hispida both short hardy Phy's, hispida looks like a Fargesia in form.

[oobmab]

Yeah, But never stopped to look close. At 70 mph I thought it is YG. Just big, because it is growing in Nolichucky River bottom land. Do you believe it's some other species? YG here is only burned bad on the outside of the patch and very tops. Other wise it has retained about 80% green. I doubt Erwin was much colder.

I drove around to the back side to get a better view. My vantage point was maybe 100' or so from the boo. The culms looked to be 3 or more inches in diameter, and quite tall. Another reason I think it is something else is because my YG hardly suffered any damage (yay!); yet this boo is wasted. GIS shows it to be on federal land.

[oobmab]

Not sure shat height you are after but Sasa oshidensis is quite hardy, more so than I tess and has reached 6' in my yard. I think the form of Phy humilis in the US must not be the same as Europe, not very hardy. Dwarf biss here is 15'+ so not really dwarf. Phy varioauriculata & Phy hispida both short hardy Phy's, hispida looks like a Fargesia in form.

10'-18' would be perfect. I will check out the ones you mentioned. Thx.

[oobmab]

Not sure shat height you are after but Sasa oshidensis is quite hardy, more so than I tess and has reached 6' in my yard. I think the form of Phy humilis in the US must not be the same as Europe, not very hardy. Dwarf biss here is 15'+ so not really dwarf. Phy varioauriculata & Phy hispida both short hardy Phy's, hispida looks like a Fargesia in form.

Any idea where I can get hispida and varioauriculata?

[needmore]

Bamboo Plantation in MS probably has both.

[dependable]

Have you considered anySemi Arundinaria other than river cane? Fastuosa v and yashadake kimini do pretty well here, might be within your height requirements. Beat up looking this year, but quite alive. The fastuosa I have in woods is almost un damaged.

[oobmab]

Bamboo Plantation in MS probably has both.

I was hoping you wouldn't say that. I had a bad experience buying from them. Won't do it again.

[oobmab]

Have you considered anySemi Arundinaria other than river cane? Fastuosa v and yashadake kimini do pretty well here, might be within your height requirements. Beat up looking this year, but quite alive. The fastuosa I have in woods is almost un damaged.

Have not. I will look at these. Thx.