Boo for center of circle driveway

[ghmerrill]

So, what would your votes be? Conditions are full sun, zone 8. I want a boo that will make people say "WOW" when they see it. Ideas I have so far-
P. Vivax Aureacaulis
P. Viridis Robert Young
P. Vivax huanghuenzhu
P. Violascens

Open to any other sugestions!

[Jeff: Igor's Apprentice]

Unless you find a bright golden culmed boo with Chinese Walking stick nodes, P. arcana curves, and 'Yunzhu' spots, I think you will be hardpressed to beat the 'Aureocaulis'.

[ghmerrill]

I definitely am leaning that direction... I may go with the robert young, just for stronger culms.. then again, my robert young is much smaller than my aureacaulis, and I would havea bigger plant quicker with any of the vivax species!

as for the other... well, if we could get the moso leaf/branch structure, with the tumidissinoda nodes, the arcana curves, and the aureacaulis color, in a clumping, hardy to -20f boo,
none of us would have to worry about having more than one plant in our collections!

[Markj]

P. Vivax huanghuenzhu Inversa

[ghmerrill]

thanks Mark! its on my wanted list, but over at this end of the world they still want your firstborn for one......

[moriphen]

I see you have suggested mostly tall bamboo, perhaps I can make some alternative suggestions, based more on form, color and rarity.

Phyllostachys flexuosa 'Spring Beauty': Looks very different, colorful and hardy

Phyllostachys arcana 'Luteosulcata': Looks very different, more so if you can expose the lower culms

Phyllostachys nidularia: You don't have it listed and the mature plant looks unique

Phyllostachys atrovaginata: You don't have it listed and it grows quick

Phyllostachys dulcis: It grows quick and I like the mature form myself

Chusquea valdiviensis or Chusquea pittieri: Build a trellis or a gazebo and allow the plant to cover it. Thought of doing it myself at some point if my other Chusquea do well.

For the Empty Pocket look

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Richard Haubrich': Very Exotic, stunning photos, yes I know its probably not for sale

Chimonocalamus pallens: I like the colors and the hardiness of this clumper, may not be a full sun bamboo

M

[ghmerrill]

I see you have suggested mostly tall bamboo, perhaps I can make some alternative suggestions, based more on form, color and rarity.

Phyllostachys flexuosa 'Spring Beauty': Looks very different, colorful and hardy

Phyllostachys arcana 'Luteosulcata': Looks very different, more so if you can expose the lower culms

Phyllostachys nidularia: You don't have it listed and the mature plant looks unique

Phyllostachys atrovaginata: You don't have it listed and it grows quick

Phyllostachys dulcis: It grows quick and I like the mature form myself

Chusquea valdiviensis or Chusquea pittieri: Build a trellis or a gazebo and allow the plant to cover it. Thought of doing it myself at some point if my other Chusquea do well.

For the Empty Pocket look

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Richard Haubrich': Very Exotic, stunning photos, yes I know its probably not for sale

Chimonocalamus pallens: I like the colors and the hardiness of this clumper, may not be a full sun bamboo

M

actually, you have a couple of good ideas on here... I am looking for a taller boo, I want something that "stands out" the size and color of the vivax aureocaulis definitely do that, plus, its a fast grower out of all of those.
I have a Flexuosa kimmei (spring beauty is neds "own" seedling) unfortunately they were out of the spring beauty when I was there picking up plants, but ned said the kimmei is almost identical.... I may have to consider that one too, now.
unfortunately, with the area being in full sun, that shoots out many of the clumpers. The Vadiviensis and such really could not be shown off to any effect without something huge to grow up on.
I like your idea of the Richard Haubrich, but I dont think I want to move it..... plus, puting a plant that rare in the driveway might be just a bit too tempting.... even if someone did not know HOW rare it was, its such a spectacular plant, that I think I would have people trying to "sneak" starts off of it pretty constantly!
Re it not being for sale, why, anything is for sale, for a price! I think Ned currently has it for close to $200 for a one gallon pot, no guarentees on survival.......

[mantis]

Clone-X

[needmore]

Although I can't grow it worth a shite here, I think that a mature grove of Henon I saw in TN is the most beautiful bamboo I've seen thus far and I've seen some dang purty bamboo in Hawai'i, Europe and the US. Perhaps too common for your area though. Personally, I also fancy the look of the yellow Aureosulcata form over the Vivax form.

[Jeff: Igor's Apprentice]

I wonder if the 'Richard Haubrich' loses some of its punch when it gets very tall and you have to crane your neck to view its variegation against an already bright sky?

[Markj]

yellow Aureosulcata

Ditto Brads comment, got a lot going for it...IMHO

Heres one here.

[Alan_L]

Man, I just love that look! That's why Phy. aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis' has a prominent spot between my patio and driveway. In another year or two you'll be able to see it from almost everywhere in the yard and from most of the windows.

Gene, I think any variety that gets culms over 1.5" thick and is well-maintained will be a showpiece for you. Hard to go wrong I think.

[Jeff: Igor's Apprentice]

I wonder if the 'Richard Haubrich' loses some of its punch when it gets very tall and you have to crane your neck to view its variegation against an already bright sky?

Ahh ha. Rechecked my homework and it seems that 'Richard Haubrich' doesnt actually get that very tall. I was thinking along the lines of 50 ft medake.

I really wanted there to be a downside to this bamboo because I won't be affording (or risking) it any time soon.

[ghmerrill]

Clone-X

yeah! thanks mantis! you sure I shouldnt try a B. bambus (sp?) isnt that the one with thorns longer and sharper than my wifes temper?

Brad,

I have a clump of P. aureaosulcata Aureacaulis on the back side of the house, and you are right, its hard to beat that color.. its just not BIG enough. Im really leaning toward the Robert young or the vivax aureocaulis... with more leaning torward the vivax just due to size up factor in our climate. some of my regular vivax went from one gallon plants to 10+ foot tall monsters in 3 years.... kind of hard to beat that! I just dont like the brittleness of the culms... every once in a while we do get some snow.....

I have never seen a fully mature, or even large size grove of Robert Young.... I have seen some very large Vivax aureocaulis. anyone got any comparison for me on the two???

[needmore]

I've seen large Robert Young in TN but in this part of the country - me south to the gulf states, where we get HUMIDITY - the bamboos all tend to have a thin sooty covering that really detracts on some species. This is not sooty mold, but surely a fungus. Some of the yellow cane species really show it and the RYoung I saw was actually ugly as a result - large dirty yellow canes. Hopefully that is not an issue in the PNW, the yellow aureosulcata forms here seem to be less impacted by it.