P.Nigra Color Transformation

[Lot 112]

I started my P.Nigra from a 15 gallon in Oct.'08. To date I don't have a solid black culm. Last year several shoots appeared the tallest one is in excess of 15ft.

I read that the canes turned black within a year. I have several canes which are jet black @ the base which are accented beautifully by the white inter nodes.

I was wondering if & when the canes will turn black.

[bamboothew]

I'm no expert, but you may have some variety of nigra that doesn't turn completely black. There are several such, nigra boryana being one, but the coloration on yours doesn't look quite like the pics I've seen. At any rate, nigra cultivars can vary from solid green to striped to leopard spots to solid black. Maybe your plant was mislabeled? I think, though, that some of the solid black ones can take up to 2 years for a green culm to totally turn color, and in the interim they can look very spotted like yours, which is a nice look in itself.

On a side note, I had a henon 'dwarf' (an all green variety) shoot come up last fall when I got the plant in the mail that turned very black looking immediately after leafing out. I suppose that was some kind of blush from the cool weather, though, because it is totally green looking now! I am waiting for it to start its spring shooting to see if maybe that is what all of its new shoots do--wouldn't that be interesting?

[stevelau1911]

The culms on my P Nigra that emerged last summer stayed green all throughout winter, and they only showed signs of color transformation when it warmed up a few weeks ago so it seems like their color changes either in response to increased sunlight or it may be from warmer temperatures. I'm not really sure what causes them to turn black, but I'm guessing its a build up of starches as they become energized to put out new shoots which will probably emerge in about 2 months. I think these culms will be jet black by the middle of summer.

We also may have different cultivators since my P nigra culms have kind of a glossy black with a smooth culm while yours is more of a flat black with yellowish culms to start with. Either way I think its pretty cool to see them change colors, and then have them put out bigger green culms to make the contrast when spring arrives here. I don't think the growing season is long enough for P Nigra to turn black on the same season they came up especially since they shoot close to around June.

Here's a close up of one of the culms.


Here's the entire plant. I moved it outdoors 3 weeks ago.

[Lot 112]

Here are some additional photos of my P.Nigra if you look closely you can see one of the new shoots.
I did a little more research & apparently color transformation can take anywhere from 1-3 years,I guess I just have to be a little more patient.