Drepanostachyum falcatum

[Bamboo4me]

I've heard it may have been found to be the same as another species. (HIMALAYACALAMUS hookerianus)(letting that be decided by those that have more time than me now.)
Interesting that it is shooting now! Seven plus new shoots! (Purple-red)It's December! 28- 65 degrees F temp range currently. I know it's been through colder winters. That's why I think it may be a different variation. Culm colors are cool! Blues, reds and purple! No damage yet and shoots still seem to be growing ! I'll post pictures tomorrow! I work way to much and don't have much free time! When I do I read through this site and see what's happening in Bamboo World it gets me thinking! Maybe when I have some Forrest's, I can sell some! 4 -5 years! Got the property and killer soil, but not the time to put in irrigation for a couple of acres.
How do I post the pictures if they aren't URLs? Just jpeg files on my computer? Thanks for any advice![/list]

[Mike McG]

Bamboo4me,

I believe it was a name change. These scientific names are always changing not like good old stable common names.

How hot and cold does it get where you are? The only H. hookerianus I have seen in person was in the temperate house at Kew RBG. It was spectacular. It gets too hot here in the summer in Central TX to grow it. We always want to grow what we can't.

Good luck with this great looking bamboo.

Mike near Brenham TX

[Bamboo4me]

Hi Mike,

I was concerned about the heat also, but I bought it from a local collector. I'm in Rocklin, CA. Lots of microclimates here. I get down to 15 F and 110 F in the summer. Generally around 98 degrees. We have about 10 days of 105+.
This last summer was the first summer with this plant, It did stress in the heat some until I found a nice spot under the eves and on the North side of my house.(coolest area) Also, last summer was one of the coolest ever. I think it only hit 100 degrees 2 times and the average was around 94. I know the previous owner grew this under an Oak canopy.
If you can tell me how to post pictures from my computer to this site, I'll show you the shoots and shape.
It hit 27 this morning. I'm moving it to the front of my house which is usually 10 degrees warmer. I have a valley in the back that backs up the cold air against my house like a freezer. Last year my back yard stayed frozen solid for 9 days! 2 inches of ice. (This is supposed to be 9a, it's probably an 8b region.) Another reason I was wondering about the species due to the cold issue. (Previous owner was in a region that growns Mandarins, (warmer) even though it's 1500 feet elevation.

[Roy]

Hi Mike,

I was concerned about the heat also, but I bought it from a local collector. I'm in Rocklin, CA. Lots of microclimates here. I get down to 15 F and 110 F in the summer. Generally around 98 degrees. We have about 10 days of 105+.
This last summer was the first summer with this plant, It did stress in the heat some until I found a nice spot under the eves and on the North side of my house.(coolest area) Also, last summer was one of the coolest ever. I think it only hit 100 degrees 2 times and the average was around 94. I know the previous owner grew this under an Oak canopy.
If you can tell me how to post pictures from my computer to this site, I'll show you the shoots and shape.
It hit 27 this morning. I'm moving it to the front of my house which is usually 10 degrees warmer. I have a valley in the back that backs up the cold air against my house like a freezer. Last year my back yard stayed frozen solid for 9 days! 2 inches of ice. (This is supposed to be 9a, it's probably an 8b region.) Another reason I was wondering about the species due to the cold issue. (Previous owner was in a region that growns Mandarins, (warmer) even though it's 1500 feet elevation.

Try this link:

http://bambooweb.info/PicEntry.php

[Markj]

The plants sold under these names over here are very different, the Drepanostachyum falcatum is a very narrow leafed plant with drooping,small culms a tad like Mexican weeping , the other is way bigger in leaf, culm and colour, it's also hard/impossible to pick up the real thing here so Steve picked some up from Jos's-amazing colour, just don't turn the pot!

They both love the cool wet summer here but I can't overwinter either here, anything below -4 or so and their toast.