Winter hardiness tests

[stevelau1911]

I've been wondering; what is the absolute hardiest bamboo species?

So far Yellow groove, Parvifolia, Bissetii and F Rufa are the only ones that show no signs of leaf burn. Other bamboos, based on ratings that may also fall in this hardiness range may be Arundinaria gigantea, phyllostachys propinqua 'beijing', makinoi and the other aureosulcata species.

Yellow groove might be the absolute hardiest out of them all, but it hasn't been cold enough to tell.

[Bamboo Outlaw]

<snip>The leaves may hang on to the sage green and suddenly one day drop en masse or they may go blond over time and hang on for weeks. You may notice that if we get some rain soon you'll look at the leaves again and think that the damage is less than you initially thought - but it isn't.

The tropicals have the blonde leaves hanging in there. Gives me hope we will have plenty of viable buds to releaf this spring. I won't feel better until mid Feb and see how the weather is then.

[foxd]

Fargesia nitida has always looked like it was top killed every Winter, but come warm weather the leaves uncurl and it looks just fine. I suspect this makes it the most cold hardy of all, but it certainly doesn't look it at the moment.

[needmore]

Fargesia nitida has always looked like it was top killed every Winter, but come warm weather the leaves uncurl and it looks just fine. I suspect this makes it the most cold hardy of all, but it certainly doesn't look it at the moment.

Dan, I think that you may have won the seedling lottery on that Nitida, I am skeptical that other clones would perform as well. I see winter damage on them for sure.

Last winter was the first in-ground for my Phy virella and despite being a youngster it held up better than any other Phyllostachys I have. Lots more data is needed but I certainly am watching this one to see how it does over time. Some references list it as conspecific with Rubromarginata but I am doubtful of that, the canes do look VERY similar but it is already hardier, at the least it is a hyper-hardy form of it.

[Iowaboo]

[Jeff: Igor's Apprentice]

P. virella does sounds pretty interesting.

[artie]

Here's an pretty good example of bamboo in Dallas, TX where we've had a few nights in the mid-teens and one light snow this season. The picture below is in an alley where nothing gets watered. The darker green in the center of the picture is Ph. aurea (golden) while the larger, brown, crispy around it is bambusa multiplex, a clumper that's not supposed to really thrive here.

[needmore]

Alan, I spoke with someone from Butler, MO yesterday and he said that his Moso has taken off and Vivax does extremely well - he said that he has been to -9F this year and the Moso looks unfazed. He also said he has 384 banana plants in his yard and has grown some to fruition. Nuts...I think I tossed his phone number but if you are close to Butler and curious enough, I can get the number off our phone bill.

Folks seem to be deep in the throes of needing spring, after essentially no contact since October I had 10 bamboo inquiries this week, all from areas too cold to plant for another 4-6 weeks yet. I guess I'm one of them, I walked around in temps below 20F this AM trying to find new planting sites and failing in that regard - anybody wanna come dig lots of Nuda out of my way???

[gardenmonkey]

My dwarf whitestripe bamboo is toast for the winter. It completely dies back in the winter here. My phyllostachys nigra, aurea, and inocalamus tessalatus aren't bothered by the winter here in 8b and remain attractive looking.

[Alan_L]

Alan, I spoke with someone from Butler, MO yesterday and he said that his Moso has taken off and Vivax does extremely well - he said that he has been to -9F this year and the Moso looks unfazed.

St. Louis is about 1/2 way between Butler and you Brad -- Butler is south of Kansas City. Is it milder over on that side of the state? I don't think so, especially not this winter. Microclimate may be the thing in this case.

Did you tell him about this site? It would be nice to see some photos and get more details.

[stevelau1911]

he said that his Moso has taken off and Vivax does extremely well - he said that he has been to -9F this year and the Moso looks unfazed.

Did he have some sort of wind barrier or fence? I'm finding that all my potted mosos that are un-protected top-kill, or at least completely leaf burn while the covered ones always hold their green. Vivax also seems to be one of my most cold sensitive bamboo species that gets really leaf burned and it hasn't even come close to -9F here.

I also remember on this forum, someone posted a picture of a top-killed moso that returned with a huge colorful shoot, much larger than the dead culms so perhaps they can do well without being completely hardy in the climate.

[Matt in TN]

I'm finding that all my potted mosos that are un-protected top-kill, or at least completely leaf burn while the covered ones always hold their green. Vivax also seems to be one of my most cold sensitive bamboo species that gets really leaf burned and it hasn't even come close to -9F here.

You can't really compare a juvenile's cold hardiness to a mature plant (especially a potted juvenile). I'm curious to hear how old the moso in question is - I'd assume it's at least close to maturity. Just like you a baby human being needs a little extra care and attention, a young bamboo does too. It's the crusty old fart that you can leave outside all night by himself

Either way it's good info on the moso!

[stevelau1911]

I'm curious to hear how old the moso in question is -

Most of these potted ones were grown in May of 2009,and some were grown a few months later and I finally have some pictures since today is around 60F and all the snow is pretty much gone.

No protection with the pot buried in the ground. They are mostly top killed with the bottom 1-2 nodes still green.


Plastic Tarp over the plant, this is a younger seedling. No real leaf burn, but black spots on the leaves


In the greenhouse There is some leaf burn, but not much.


Indoors by the window There is significant growth with many new shoots, the newest ones that are still rising are approaching 1/4 inch in diameter and some over 3ft. This is perhaps the best way to over winter it. Nights have been above freezing, but I don't know if the new shoots will keep growing if I bring it outside now so I'll leave them inside for the time being.

[Matt in TN]

I'm curious to hear how old the moso in question is - I'd assume it's at least close to maturity.

I was referring to needmore's friend in MO - but thanks for the update!