What bamboo do I need?

Baa · Post by **Baa** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:44 pm

Hi! I'm a bamboo newbie so forgive the stupid questions, but I'm gonna ask them anyway.

I've been doing some research (this site is a great resource) but I'm still not sure what I should get. I have a small urban lot and I want some nice green bamboo that looks like bamboo. The location I'd like to try first is on the front east side of a very tall house, so it's sort of protected and only gets morning sun, and half of that is filtered. I'd like to plant an area about 12'x12'x12' (though I'm flexible on height

) with something that stays green through a zone 6 winter. It also has to stick to a slope (1:1 to 1:2).

Fargesia looks like the obvious choice. Are there any runners that might do OK in this site? Which Fargesia look better in the winter? Which grow faster? What do I need to know?

Thanks in advance. Any suggestions are appreciated!
-B

Iowaboo · Post by **Iowaboo** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:11 pm

To understand whether fargesia or which fargesia would be suited to your climate, we would have to have more detail such as geography and climate wise.

Baa · Post by **Baa** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:52 pm

I'm located in Dearborn, southeast MI. The soil is dense clay with 6-12" of topsoil with a fairly neutral pH. This is USDA zone 6b. Winter temperatures rarely drop below 0F. Summers are mild with average temps in the 70s and a few weeks in the 80s- low 90s. The site doesn't get alot of rain so it will be irrigated. I'm not sure but I would guesstimate the altitude at approximately 10 ft.

I know this location is not perfect for bamboo and the shady site probably rules out the native bamboos, though I don't really want something that runs and is optimally suited for my yard!

I have F. murielae and F. nitida in the backyard and it's doing OK but it's slow to take off and looks bad right now. I think it's too exposed but from what I've read, other species look better in the winter anyway.

Iowaboo · Post by **Iowaboo** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:12 pm

Actually, the native Arundinaria gigantea could be what your looking for. It can take shade and if one gets a northern clone, it can keep its color in the winter. Also, people haven't had it run like the phyllostachys.