Bamboo Ranch  

Your Southwest Source for Bamboo!

520 - 743 - 9879    bambooranch@juno.com

Bamboo Plants, Poles, Tools, Clothing, Furniture, Gifts

Specializing in Non-invasive Clumping Bamboos

Over 120 Varieties   Visits by Appointment

 

 

Raisin' Cane In The Desert! 

     Bamboo Ranch, is a specialty nursery featuring a large selection of desert-grown bamboo for every use, from giant bamboo up to 8 inches in diameter, to graceful medium-sized hedge bamboos, to tiny variegated ground covers.  Located on Tucson's West Side, Bamboo Ranch features a large demonstration garden with over 75 groves.  Make an appointment to visit our gardens and see the huge impact a mature grove can make. 

 

Why Grow Bamboo?

 

     Bamboo is the ideal choice for evergreen privacy screening, creating a

shady oasis or as a stunning and exotic landscape feature.  Once

established, bamboo uses less water and creates more biomass in less time than most commonly used landscape plants or trees. We have many low-water species, including Mexican Weeping Bamboo, native to Sonora.  Summertime temperatures in our largest grove are about 10 - 15`F  cooler than the ambient temperature!  Bamboo is also perfect for erosion control, for revegetating degraded land even on steep slopes and as a windbreak/dustbreak/soundbreak.  It can also provide edible shoots and poles which are outstanding as a strong, lightweight building material.

 

What is the best bamboo for you?

 

This depends on your specific needs and the growing requirements of the species you desire to grow. For shade, the taller species are best, while for a hedge, some of the smaller ones might be better suited. For privacy, choose a bamboo that has low branches or doesn't get too tall (unless it is a high-rise building you need to screen). Many bamboos like to grow in the full sun but others are only happy when grown in a shady location. It's important to consider the minimum temperature and sun/shade requirements before choosing your bamboo(s). The descriptions in our Plant List will help you decide which type is best for the site you have in mind.

 

 

Bamboos are members of the grass family. They vary in growth habit with running, clumping and climbing varieties.

 

Running Bamboos

            

       large           medium      small                    Elegant bamboo (Phyllostachys vivax) makes a                                                                                           lovely walk-through grove. This is not what we                                                                                              mean by a climbing bamboo!                                                                                                       

          Running bamboos grow in temperate regions around the world, thus they are the hardiest bamboos. They come in all sizes, from short groundcovers to forest canopies. They have long underground stems called rhizomes and are suitable for filling in a large area. In the desert, they tend to grow only where they are watered, seldom requiring the barriers needed in other regions.

    You should grow Running bamboos if:

·     your winter lows are in the low teens or lower.

·     you want a large, uniform walk-through grove.

·     your neighbor isn't watering nearby.

·     you need erosion control on a steep bank

·        you need a tough variegated ground cover

·        you have an Oriental garden  Rhizome  system for running bamboos

 

 

Clumping Bamboos 

 

                

Greenstripe Blowpipe bamboo                                                   large      medium     small

 

Clumping Bamboos grow in tropical or subtropical climates and in certain montane climates. Sizes range from short bushes to towering giants. They have short rhizomes and thus form a tight clump, with a smaller footprint than most running bamboos. Many clumpers grow tall faster than runners and reach a taller height. Clumping bamboos do not spread laterally as fast or as far as running bamboos, and are more suited to the small urban garden, where space is at a premium. They often have larger leaves and lend a tropical appearance to the garden. They can deal with prolonged drought periods, but are limited by colder temperatures. Clumpers typically have stronger, thicker-walled poles than runners.

 

  You should grow Clumping bamboos if:

·  you want a large plant but have a small space.

·  your winter lows are rarely in the mid teens.

·  you want a plant that gets tall fast and you need it yesterday.

·  you want strong, high quality poles.

·  you have a tropical looking garden

 

Rhizome  system for clumping bamboos        

           

 

Many bamboos of both running and clumping kinds are excellent for windbreaks, hedges, edible shoots, erosion control, useful poles, noise, dust and pollen filters, and as exceptional evergreen landscape features.

 

Care and Management of Bamboo Groves

Please read all instructions before planting

Choosing a Site: One of the most important considerations is choosing a proper site. Either  you have a site in mind where you want to plant the perfect bamboo, or you have a bamboo in mind for which you want the perfect site. In either case, you should become acquainted with the growth habits and vital characteristics of any species of bamboo which you desire to plant to ensure that the site you have chosen meets the needs of those species. Some things to consider are :

Sun exposure - Does the species need full sun?  part shade?  full shade?

Wind exposure -  Do the prevailing winds come when the bamboo will have soft shoots in the air?                  Most runners shoot in spring, clumpers shoot from mid summer to late fall.

Overhead wires - If there are wires over the site, plant a species that doesn't  get as tall.

Underground cables or pipes - Do not plant bamboo where you need underground access.

Drainage: Do not plant bamboo where the ground is constantly wet or where drainage is bad.

Property Lines: Some bamboo plants get very large. Running bamboos can grow a long distance if conditions permit. Avoid planting them where your neighbor has a lawn, garden or irrigated area adjacent to your site or install an underground barrier. Even clumping bamboos can, over time, get quite large. Give the larger species plenty of space.

Cold Pockets:  Avoid planting tropicals in depressions where cold air pools up in winter.

Slope:  Bamboos can grow on almost any grade. They are used to stabilize steep banks and to prevent erosion. Dwarf running bamboos are especially good for this use.

 

Site Preparation & Planting Instructions:  Bamboos prefer a rich, loamy soil.  Once the plant is established it will venture out into existing desert soil. 

 1) Choose a well-drained location.  If you are not sure, dig a large hole, fill with water, and see if it drains within a few hours.  If not either dig deeper or choose a diferent site.   Break up and remove any caliche as much as possible. Avoid planting in clay.  For best results, dig a large hole as you would for a tree, removing large rocks and avoiding underground pipelines to which you may need access. For runners the holes should be at least 2 1/2'  feet deep and for clumpers, about six inches deeper.

2) If you are planting in a natural desert location, REMOVE ALL DESERT SOIL from the hole.  Replace it with a  rich, well draining soil mix for rapid growth.  Use the desert soil to form a berm on the downhill side of of the hole to help hold water (and catch rainwater) around the plant.  Fill the hole with a mixture of topsoil, sand, well-composted mulch or manure, or similar.  Avoid mulch or manure which has not yet broken down; the process of breakdown uses up nitrogen that the plant needs. For best results, do not use ANY desert soil in the mixture.

 3) To remove plant from pot: for small pots, place the palm of one hand in the bottom of the pot and invert the pot. Avoid crushing any new emerging shoots. Remove pot by tapping rim with other hand. For large plants lay the pot on its side. If there is a large, hardened stalk in the pot, pull the plant out by this stem, holding it near the base, while holding pot with foot or against an edge that will hold it.

Most Bamboo Ranch plants are potted in a soil-less potting mixture.  Keep this "plug" intact  if possible when planting.  If necessary, loosen rootball gently to allow roots to more easily venture into their new home. Avoid exposing roots to wind or sun during planting process.  Place plant in hole, cover with soil to same level as plant had when in the pot.  Water very thoroughly, making sure that water penetrates the rootball. It may be necessary to shade newly planted bamboos to prevent or reduce transplant shock if planted in direct sun or during hot weather. Water daily for the first week if planting in hot weather. After that, or in cooler weather, the top 1/2 inch or so of soil should look and feel dry before more water is given.  In this way you avoid the risk of overwatering.  A neutral or slightly acid pH is ideal, but many bamboos thrive even under alkaline soil and water conditions.   A yearly top dressing of mulch, manure or compost will keep the grove looking green and healthy.

 

Watering:  During the hot months bamboo should be irrigated regularly, for short periods. The root and rhizome systems rarely exceed 3 feet in depth, so deep watering such as a large tree would need is not necessary. The soil surface should be allowed to dry out between waterings to maintain good aeration. As bamboo plants grow, a leafy mulch builds up under the plant. The mulch is rich in silica and forms a vapor barrier,  which retards evaporation and reduces the amount of water needed by the plant. In this way, bamboo is very efficient with water and will produce more biomass per drop of water than most other plants. Avoid overwatering!  The most common mistake in growing bamboo is overwatering. The roots and rhizomes easily rot if kept under constantly wet conditions. Bamboos suffering from prolonged drought may defoliate or lose culms but usually recover when watered. Bamboos suffering from too much water rarely recover unless the problem is caught in the early stages. Telltale signs of overwatering include yellow foliage with brown mottling and/or brown spots on the culms, especially on new growth.  Underwatered plants will also turn yellow starting with the oldest leaves. They will drop the oldest leaves before new growth is affected. During the hottest weather, many bamboos will fold up the leaves to reduce exposure to the sun. This is normal. When the sun's angle changes they should open up again. If they don't, the plant needs water.  If a plant looks unhappy in the summer and you think it has enough water, it may need more shade, especially if it is a small plant.  Once the plant is larger, it is more able to shade itself.

 

Fertilizer:  Bamboos are grasses and, just like a lawn, require nitrogen to look healthy. . Organic fertilizers are highly recommended. Horse manure is the best for bamboo as long as it is well composted. If using chemical fertilizers a balanced NPK  30/30/30 fertilizer gives best results. Bamboos also need silica and the best source is the leaf mulch produced by the plant. Do not remove this leaf litter for the first several years. You may want to rake it under the plant if it gets too scattered. When the plant is large enough that the leaf litter starts to mound-up inside the grove, most of it should be removed. If the mulch gets too thick it will reduce air flow around the base of the plant, which could cause a moldy condition to develop. Too much leaf mulch can also cause uneven absorption of water and fertilizer.

 

Predators: Many people find that fresh bamboo shoots are delicious. Many animals think so too. Protect young  plants and shoots by fencing the area where you grow bamboo from rabbits, dogs, javelinas, livestock or poultry. Dogs can especially be a problem. They will chew up new shoots and if they repeatedly urinate or defecate near the plants, the soil will become toxic to bamboo. On the other hand, if you have plenty of bamboo, it makes an excellent forage for livestock.

 

Thinning:  To get maximum size from your grove it must be thinned yearly after the third season in the ground. It can take three years for a bamboo plant to become established and no pruning should be done during that time. To thin, remove about one third of the canes by cutting them off at ground level. Always cut the smallest/oldest culms, leaving the new growth intact. Use a sharp saw  to make a clean cut and cut straight across to minimize the area of the cut surface. In groves of running bamboos, rhizomes sometimes surface then dive back in (after taking a good look) creating a tripping hazard. It will not hurt the plant to remove these.

 

Save those pots! Bamboo Ranch will give store credit for returned containers.

 

BAMBOO RANCH  PLANT LIST   2007- 8

This list contains most of the species currently in cultivation at the Bamboo Ranch. While many of the species listed are usually available, many of the rare species are only available some of the time, or only propagated by special request.  Each entry includes:

Botanical name, Common name, Uses, Country(ies) of Origin, Rarity, Maximum Size, Minimum temperature (before foliar damage), Sun / Shade, Edibility, and a short Description of the plant.  It should be noted that a bamboo grown outside of its natural habitat may not grow  to the maximum size listed. Site conditions, weather, soil type, watering schedule, grove management and numerous other factors determine the ultimate size of a mature grove. Temperatures listed represent the lower limit for leaf damage in Tucson, Arizona. In other locales with longer exposures to cold, plants may be damaged more severely. Species selection, site selection and grove management can minimize problems from winter temperatures. Sun tolerance is based on the performance of mature groves. Small plants may need to be shaded or treated with antitranspirants when first planted in full sun to prevent sunburn when planting in hot weather or low humidity. This shade could be provided by existing vegetation or buildings. When plants are big enough to shade themselves, additional shade isn't necessary. 

 

CLUMPING BAMBOOS

Bambusa balcooa                          BALCOOA BAMBOO                    

GIANT, POLES                                  Origin:   INDIA , NEPAL                                  RARE

Up to 80' tall x 6 1/4"" dia.                   Hardy to 18`F             FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A  beautiful, giant, thick-walled bamboo useful for construction.  It has very large leaves and the poles have long arching tips which give it a very poetic appearance, like giant fishing poles. The long perpendicular branches can make the poles difficult to extract if the grove isn't regularly thinned. It is prized in India for use as scaffolding, beams, pillars and splits for wall panels for houses. It is probably the largest species which can grow in Tucson.

 

Bambusa bambos                                     GIANT THORNY BAMBOO                      

GIANT                                                 Origin:   INDIA                         FULL SUN                   RARE

Up to 100' tall x 7" dia. Hardy to 27`F (has survived short exposures to 19`F)                     SHOOTS BITTER

DESCRIPTION: A fast-growing giant tropical bamboo much used for timber and pulp in India. When large, the lower branches get long and are armed with large, curved thorns, forming an impenetrable barrier. It is natually deciduous, displaying "fall colors" before dropping its leaves. While being rather drought tolerant, it is one of the few bamboos that doesn't mind wet feet. Give it some room, it's a large plant.

 

Bambusa beecheyana                  BEECHEY BAMBOO                    

ORNAMENTAL                                 Origin: CHINA

Up To 55' tall x 5" diam.                      Hardy to 18`F              FULL SUN       SHOOTS: DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION: A very fast growing hardy tropical with hard, useful poles used for rafts and pipes. It has short internodes and arching tips, giving it a poetic appearance. The summer shoots are fat and tasty.         

 

Bambusa blumeana                      SPINY BAMBOO                            

TIMBER                                            Origin:  INDONESIA                            RARE

Up to 60' tall x 5" dia.                           Hardy to 18`F              FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:          A  tall, useful bamboo with very hard wood and spiny lower branches. Used for construction, basketry, furniture, parquets, etc.

 

Bambusa boniopsis *                   STRIKING BAMBOO          * ID uncertain                      

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  CHINA

UP TO 25' tall x 2" diam.                     Hardy to 15`F              FULL SUN                               RARE

DESCRIPTION: A very attractive landscape plant with thick walled, useful poles and long, wide  leaves . Its compact size makes it the perfect choice for a small garden space.  Grows very rapidly and has few low branches. This plant is an outstanding landscape species but more closely resembles a Dendrocalamus than a Bambusa and it is probably related to Dendrocalamus minor, a very cold-hardy member of the genus.

 

Bambusa burmanica                     BURMA BAMBOO             

GIANT                                                 Origin :  BURMA,THAILAND                           RARE

Up to 60' tall x 6" dia.                           Hardy to 25`F (has survived short exposures to 19`F)          FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  A large, attractive plant that is used for construction or as a windbreak. The poles are straight and very dense making it useful for house construction.

 

Bambusa chungii                           TROPICAL BLUE BAMBOO                   

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:   CHINA

Up to 32' tall x 2" dia.                          Hardy to 21`F              PART SHADE             RARE

DESCRIPTION: One of the most beautiful and sought after bamboos. The dark green culms are covered with a white waxy powder which makes them appear sky blue. The poles are thin walled and have long internodes making it useful for making flutes and splitting for weaving. It is an outstanding ornamental plant.

 

Bambusa chungii barbellata                   BARBELLATA BLUE BAMBOO            

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:   CHINA

Up to 22' tall x 1 ½"" dia.                                Hardy to 21`F              PART SHADE             RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A smaller  form of Tropical Blue Bamboo.  Makes a  beautiful landscape plant.

 

Bambusa dissimulator                 DRAGON'S NEST BAMBOO                               

TIMBER                                             Origin: CHINA

UP TO 50' tall x 3" diam.                     Hardy to 15`F              FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION: A very fast growing hardy tropical with hard, thick walled, useful poles used for construction and as carrying poles. Makes a dense grove of both erect and arching culms. The long branches make it useful as a green fence or windbreak. Deals with the desert heat very well.

 

Bambusa dolichoclada  'Stripe'             GIANT GREENSTRIPE                 

TIMBER, ORNAMENTAL                             Origin: TAIWAN

UP TO 65' tall x 4" diam.                                 Hardy to 20`F              FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION: A beautiful giant bamboo. Culms are a waxy yellow with dark green stripes. Used in weaving or as a windbreak. Poles are hard and useful.

 

Bambusa dolichomerithalla 'greenstripe'       GREEN-STRIPED BLOWPIPE BAMBOO    

ORNAMENTAL                                                          Origin:  TAIWAN

Up to 35' tall x 2" dia.                                                   Hardy to 15`F             FULL SUN                  RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful accent plant with yellow culms and dark green stripes. The lower nodes are free of branches. Traditionally used as blowpipe for cooking.

 

Bambusa dolichomerithalla 'silverstripe'                    SILVER-STRIPE BLOWPIPE BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  TAIWAN

Up to 35' tall x 2" dia.                           Hardy to 15`F              FULL SUN                                           RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful accent plant with green culms with silver stripes. The lower nodes are free of branches. Traditionally used as blowpipe for cooking.

 

Bambusa edulis                             EDIBLE BAMBOO         ( = B. odashimae)

LANDSCAPE                                               Origin:  TAIWAN          FULL SUN

UP TO 65' tall x 3" diam.                     Hardy to 20`F              SHOOTS DELICIOUS                        RARE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive landscape plant with large, dark green leaves and very erect culms. It is grown for its delicious shoots. Scarce in U.S.

 

Bambusa eutuldoides viridivittata                        ASIAN LEMON BAMBOO                

ORNAMENTAL, POLES                               Origin:   HONG KONG

Up to 40' tall x 2 ½" " dia.                                Hardy to 13`F                          FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  beautiful and useful plant, it has lemon yellow canes with dark green stripes. The new shoots have orange and peach  tones with stripes. The poles are hard and durable and used for farm implements, scaffolding and houses. Formerly it was called Bambusa textilis vittata.

 

 

 

Bambusa intermedia                     PURPLE-STRIPE BAMBOO                               

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:   YUNNAN, CHINA

Up to 30' tall x 2" " dia.                                    Hardy to 22`F                          FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  medium-sized bamboo from the temperate areas of south China where it is used as a source of edible shoots and strong, thick walled poles. Culms are dark green with purplish streaks making it an attractive landscape plant. The poles are used for weaving and farm implements.

 

Bambusa lako                                 TIMOR BLACK  BAMBOO                                   

ORNAMENTAL, POLES                   Origin:   TIMOR, INDONESIA

Up to 70' tall x 4" " dia.                                    Hardy to 25`F                          FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  gorgeous bamboo having purple-black culms with occasional lime-green pinstripes. The wood is hard and useful for construction or musical instruments. It is much sought after as a landscape plant.

 

Bambusa maculata                                    PRING TUTUL (SPOTTED BAMBOO)

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin: BALI, INDONESIA

Up to 60' x 5" dia.                                Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN                   VERY RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  beautiful bamboo much sought after for the furniture trade due to the brown spots which develop on the mature culms. It is only found in Bali and is extremely rare.

 

Bambusa malingensis                  SEA BREEZE BAMBOO                          

TALL HEDGE                                                Origin:   HAINAN ISLAND, HONG KONG

Up to 35' tall x 2 1/2 " dia.                    Hardy to 15`F                          FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  A  fast-growing, useful bamboo with strong, straight poles for frames, crafts or light construction. Quickly makes a dense hedge and windbreak. It is resistant to salt spray, alkaline soils, and easily withstands the desert heat.

 

Bambusa membranacea   ( = Dendrocalamus membranaceus)               WAYA BAMBOO    

TIMBER                                 Origin:  THAILAND,  BURMA, LAOS

Up to 70' tall by 4" diam.         Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE      RARE

DESCRIPTION:   A large, fast growing, useful bamboo with straight, thin walled but strong culms. It grows in open clumps with widely spaced culms arching at the tips, making it an attractive landscape plant.

 

Bambusa multiplex                        HEDGE BAMBOO                          

HEDGE                                                           Origin:   CHINA

Up to 25' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                     Hardy to 12`F                          FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  This is the hardiest species in the genus Bambusa. It makes a dense hedge or a good windbreak,with many branches at each node. It is also used for weaving and as binder material for papermaking. Sometimes it is used as an ornamental plant near temples. Can grow in wet places better than most bamboos.

 

Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'                 ALPHONSE KARR            

HEDGE                                                                                   Origin:   CHINA

Up to 25' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                             Hardy to 12`F                          FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  The most colorful member of the multiplex group with yellow culms striped with dark green. The new shoots are bright pink and the color is retained on the base of new culms. Grown as an ornamental plant or privacy screen.

 

Bambusa multiplex 'Midori Green'                    GREEN ALPHONSE KARR                    

HEDGE                                                                                               Origin:   CHINA

Up to 25' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                                         Hardy to 12`F              FULL SUN       RARE

DESCRIPTION:  Same as Alphonse Karr but the culms remain green. Seems  to grow larger  than the typs.Grown as an ornamental plant or privacy screen.

 

 

 

Bambusa multiplex 'Rainbow Alphonse Karr'                       RAINBOW ALPHONSE KARR               

HEDGE                                                                                               Origin:   CHINA

Up to 25' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                                         Hardy to 12`F              FULL SUN       RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  form of Alphonse Karr with both green and yellow/green striped culms on the same plant. Grown as an ornamental plant or privacy screen. Some shoots are pink and some are green.

 

Bambusa multiplex  'Fern Leaf'                          FERN LEAF BAMBOO                 

ORNAMENTAL, HEDGE                                          Origin:  cultivation in southeast ASIA

Up to 20' tall x 1/2" dia.                                                            Hardy to 12`F              SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive form of Hedge Bamboo.  Delicate looking with 10 to 20 closely spaced, two-ranked leaves, giving a fernlike appearance. Looks like a tall green fountain.

 

Bambusa multiplex  'Golden Goddess'                        GOLDEN GODDESS BAMBOO              

ORNAMENTAL, HEDGE                                          Origin:  cultivation in southeast ASIA

Up to 10' tall x 1/2" dia.                                                            Hardy to 12`F              SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive dwarf form of Hedge Bamboo with small, delicate foliage, similar in appearance to Fern Leaf Bamboo, The canes turn a golden yellow in the sun.

 

Bambusa multiplex  riviereorum                        CHINESE GODDESS BAMBOO             

ORNAMENTAL, HEDGE                                          Origin:  cultivation in southeast ASIA

Up to 6' tall x 1/3" dia.                                                  Hardy to 12`F              SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive dwarf form of Hedge Bamboo with small, delicate foliage, similar in appearance to Fern Leaf Bamboo, but much shorter. Culms are solid.

 

Bambusa multiplex 'silverstripe'                                    SILVERSTRIPE HEDGE BAMBOO                   

HEDGE                                                                                   Origin:   CHINA

Up to 25' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                             Hardy to 12`F              FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  This is the largest form of multiplex. It makes a dense hedge, a good windbreak and is used by some flutemakers for instruments. It has silver variegations on the leaves and occasionally on large culms.

 

Bambusa multiplex 'Thai Hedge'                       THAI HEDGE BAMBOO                           

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:   THAILAND, BURMA              RARE

Up to 50' tall x  4" dia.                                     Hardy to below 19`F (limit unknown) FULL SUN      

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful, shrubby bamboo with slender, arching, thin-walled culms. It makes an excellent hedge or privacy screen.  It is used in Thailand for mats, trays, baskets, and other light construction and craftwork.

 

Bambusa multiplex  'Tiny Fern'              TINY FERN BAMBOO                   

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  cultivation in southeast ASIA

Up to 3' tall x 1/8" dia.                                      Hardy to 12`F              SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  The smallest form of Hedge Bamboo in cultivation.  Delicate looking with leaves often under an inch long. Very attractive. Makes a nice potted specimen on the patio.

 

Bambusa mutabilis                                    PURPLE STREAK BAMBOO       ( = B. textilis mutabilis)

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  Hainan Island, CHINA

Up to 40' x 2 1/3 "                                Hardy to 13`F                          FULL SUN                               RARE

DESCRIPTION:  Erect, thin- walled species similar to Bambusa textilis.  It has long internodes with a white bloom near the nodes, sometimes marked with purple streaks.  The bottom two nodes are surrounded by a ring of silky greyish hairs. The poles are straight and useful.

 

Bambusa nutans                            NODDING BAMBOO                                 

TIMBER                                             Origin:   INDIA, NEPAL & the lower HIMALAYAS                    RARE

Up to 40' tall x 3" dia.                           Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN                               SHOOTS BITTER

DESCRIPTION: A graceful bamboo with very strong culms highly prized for all construction purposes. The wood is natually resistant to termite attack. It is drought tolerant, sometimes dropping its leaves without harm to the plant.

 

Bambusa oldhamii                                     GIANT TIMBER BAMBOO                                   

TALL HEDGE                                                Origin:   CHINA

Up to 55' tall x 4" dia.                           Hardy to 15`F              FULL SUN                   SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  A large bamboo with straight, erect, thick-walled culms useful for furniture construction. It makes a great hedge or windbreak and is grown commercially for its sweet shoots.

 

Bambusa pachinensis                  PACHI BAMBOO                            

LANDSCAPE                                      Origin:  TAIWAN

Up to 33' x 2 1/2"                                 Hardy to 20`F              FULL SUN                                           RARE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive bamboo with straight, hard poles often used for a windbreak. The lower part of the culm is free of branches. The leaves are short and wide giving it a distinctive look.

 

Bambusa pervariabilis viridistriatus     SUNBURST BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  CHINA

Up to 33' x 2.4"                                                Hardy to 25`F  (or possibly lower)                              RARE

DESCRIPTION: A very beautiful bamboo with strong, useful poles. The new shoots are yellow with green stripes with peach and pink tones maturing to yellow-gold with dark-green stripes of varying width. The poles are strong and durable and use for punting poles, frames and tools in China. Shavings of the inner culm cortex are use to treat a number of diseases.

 

Bambusa polymorpha                  PHAI-HOM BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  INDIA, THAILAND, BURMA

Up to 65' x 6"                                       Hardy to 22`F              FULL SUN                               VERY RARE

DESCRIPTION: A large, strong bamboo much used for house construction and also prized for its beauty. The leaves are large and held upright. Culms are covered with a fine greyish-white hair giving it a silky feel. In Burma it is considered the best bamboo for floors, roofs and walls. It is one of the top ten bamboos grown for construction in Indonesia, and is also grown as a landscape feature.

 

Bambusa sinospinosa                 CHINESE THORNY BAMBOO                

BARRIER                                           Origin:   CHINA

Up to 70' tall x 5" dia.                           Hardy to 20`F              FULL SUN                               RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A handsome bamboo, with small, delicate leaves. It is armed with formidable thorns, making an impenetrable barrier around the base of the plant. Makes a great tall hedge.

 

Bambusa pachinensis X B.sinospinosa                     HYBRID THORNY BAMBOO                   

BARRIER                                           Origin:  Hybridized in CALIFORNIA from two species from CHINA.

MAXIMUM SIZE UNKNOWN               Hardy to 20`F                          FULL SUN       VERY RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful, spiny bamboo which will probably be a giant. It is very fast growing and makes an impenetrable hedge. The foliage is very attractive with short, wide, strongly tapered leaves. It has the genetic potential to have 70' tall, construction-grade poles.

 

Bambusa textilis                             WEAVER'S BAMBOO                   

ORNAMENTAL, POLES                   Origin:   CHINA

Up to 40' tall x 2" dia.                           Hardy to 13`F                          FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  One of the most attractive bamboos, with slender, gracefully arching culms. The lower nodes are naturally free of branches. The culms are thin-walled but very strong and of superior quality for furniture. It has long internodes useful for flutemaking.

 

Bambusa textilis glabra                SILK BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:   CHINA

Up to 30' tall x 1 1/4" dia.                     Hardy to 13`F                          FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A slender form of Weaver's similar to gracilis but with glabrous culms and culm sheaths. An outstanding ornamental plant. It has long internodes and is good for flute-making.

Suffered no damage in winter 2007 even with an inch of snow.

 

 

Bambusa textilis gracilis              GRACEFUL BAMBOO                  

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:   CHINA

Up to 30' tall x 1 1/4" dia.                     Hardy to 13`F                          FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  One of the most attractive bamboos, with slender, gracefully arching culms. The lower nodes are naturally free of branches. The culms are thin-walled but very strong and of superior quality for splitting and weaving. It has long internodes and is good for flute-making. Rrare in the U.S.

 

Bambusa textilis 'Kanapaha'      GIANT WEAVER'S BAMBOO                 

ORNAMENTAL, POLES                   Origin:   CHINA

Up to 50' tall x 2 ½ " dia.                     Hardy to 13`F                          FULL SUN       VERY RARE

DESCRIPTION:  Like regular Weaver's but much larger. Lower half of culms has no branches and is prominently blue in mature groves. Culms are straight and very strong.

 

Bambusa tulda striata                   STRIPED TULDA BAMBOO

POLES, ORNAMENTAL                   Origin:  INDIA, BURMA, BANGLADESH, THAILAND

Up to 70' x 4" dia.                                Hardy to 25`F                          FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A useful, large, straight bamboo with occasional stripes near the base.  The lower portion of the culms is frequently solid. This bamboo is used for heavy construction such as bridges and houses especially in Bangladesh. It is also quite beautiful with large leaves.

 

Bambusa tuldoides                       PUNTING POLE BAMBOO                      

POLES                                                           Origin:  CHINA

Up to 55' tall x 2 1/4" dia.                     Hardy to 15`F                          FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  An excellent bamboo. Very attractive as a specimen plant, with strong, thick-walled culms useful for construction. The culm cortex is used to treat febrile diseases and bleeding disorders. Makes a great windbreak. Drought tolerant. Used for scaffolding and formerly for pole vaulting.

 

Bambusa tuldoides(?) 'Clone X'                        GIANT PUNTING POLE BAMBOO                     

POLES                                                                       Origin:  CHINA

Up to 75' tall x 2.8" dia.                                                Hardy to 15`F              FULL SUN                   VERY RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  very vigorous form of Punting Pole bamboo which gets much larger than the normal type. The poles are extremely thick and strong. There is an ivory nodal band and the culms are thinly covered with white powder. It tends to grow zig-zag at first much like B. t. ventricosa.  I.D. uncertain.

 

Bambusa tuldoides 'Blue Powder'                    BLUE PUNTING POLE BAMBOO                      

POLES, ORNAMENTAL                   ORIGIN:  CHINA

Up to 55' tall x 2 1/4" dia.                     Hardy to 15`F                          FULL SUN                   VERY RARE

DESCRIPTION:  Differs from normal Punting Pole by having whitish powder on a dark green culm giving new culms a powder blue appearance. Very attractive as a specimen plant, with strong, thick-walled culms useful for construction. Drought tolerant.

 

Bambusa tuldoides ventricosa              BUDDHA'S BELLY BAMBOO                

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  CHINA

Up to 55' tall x 2 1/4" dia.                                 Hardy to 15'F               FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  A bamboo prized for its swollen internodes and exotic look.  The culms and branches are zigzag. It is very drought tolerant and needs less water than most bamboos.

 

Bambusa tuldoides X B. edulis              HYBRID EDIBLE BAMBOO                     

POLES                                                                       Origin: Hybridized in California from two Chinese species.

MAXIMUM SIZE UNKNOWN               Hardy to below 19`F (limit unknown)              FULL SUN       RARE

DESCRIPTION:   An attractive bamboo, extremely rare, with strong culms useful for construction. It has the genetic potential for edible shoots and good resistance to cold and drought.

 

 

 

 

Bambusa vulgaris vittata                                     JADE STRIPE BAMBOO              

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin unknown (PAN-TROPICAL)

Up to 50' tall x 4" dia.                                       Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN             SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  One of the most beautiful giant bamboos. The culms are bright yellow with random jade green stripes seemingly brush-stroked on. The poles are useful and of good size.  The classic striped bamboo.

 

Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin'                      WAMIN  BAMBOO             

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin: CHINA

Up to 16' tall x 3" dia.                                       Hardy to 27`F              FULL SUN                               RARE

DESCRIPTION:  Highly sought as a landscape plant. The culms have swollen internodes and are wide and compact. One of the largest diameter bamboos for its height.

 

Bambusa sp. aff. oldhamii 'Hirose'             HIROSE (Hee-RO-see) BAMBOO             

LANDSCAPE                                                  Origin: UNKNOWN                                         VERY RARE

Up to 90' tall x 5" dia.                                       Hardy to 15`F              FULL SUN          SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  Very fast growing. Only known plants grow near Hilo, Hawai'i. Thought to have been brought from the Philippines.  Forms a beautiful erect clump with excellent quality timber, much harder than Bambusa oldhamii.  Retains a dark green color on leaves even in desert heat.  Makes a great landscape plant.  Very rare.

 

Cephalostachyum pergracile                 TINWA BAMBOO               

LANDSCAPE, TIMBER                                 Origin:  BURMA, THAILAND                                       RARE

Up to 30' tall x 2" diam.                                               Hardy to 22`F              FULL SUN       SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful tropical bamboo with very large leaves and strong, thin-walled culms. The culms are  often used for a vessel for cooking rice to give it a special flavor.  It is remarkably tolerant of dry conditions and ranges in part with Dendrocalmus strictus. The poles are used for house construction, posts, shingles, splits for weaving and handicrafts and for paper pulp.

 

Dendrocalamus asper                  GIANT ROUGH BAMBOO            

LANDSCAPE, TIMBER                     Origin:  THAILAND, JAVA                                                        RARE

Up to 100' tall x 8" diam.                     Hardy to 23`F              FULL SUN                   SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  One of the largest bamboos in the world. It is used for construction of houses and bridges, water pipes, cooking pots,musical instruments and furniture. Its large size makes it of value as an ornamental plant. It is grown commercially for timber and for its sweet edible shoots.

 

Dendrocalamus brandisii                        BRANDIS' GIANT BAMBOO                   

LANDSCAPE, TIMBER                     Origin:  INDIA, THAILAND, BURMA,  S. CHINA                      RARE

Up to 120' tall x 8" diam.                     Hardy to 23`F              FULL SUN                               SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  One of the world's tallest bamboos. Poles are used for construction, furniture, farm implements, baskets and handicrafts.  The shoots are eaten as a vegetable in China and Thailand.

 

Dendrocalamus giganteus                      TROPICAL GIANT BAMBOO                  

LANDSCAPE, TIMBER                                 Origin:  THAILAND, INDONESIA                     RARE

Up to180' tall x 12" diam.                                Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  The largest bamboo in the world, growing to 12" in diameter in northwest Bali. It is used for house construction, scaffolding, water pipes, buckets, boat masts and furniture. Its large size makes it of value as an ornamental plant. There are unconfirmed reports of this plant reaching 60 meters (nearly 200') in height.

 

Dendrocalamus hamiltonii          HAMILTON'S GIANT BAMBOO              

LANDSCAPE, TIMBER                     Origin:  NE Himalayas, S. CHINA                   RARE

Up to 80' tall x 8" diam.                                   Hardy to 23`F              FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A giant subtropical forest bamboo used for construction and for splitting and weaving. The shoots are edible and delicious. It is sometimes used to make floats for rafts. It is also an attractive landscape plant for warm locations. The leaves are wide and can be over a foot long. It arches attractively.

 

 

 

Dendrocalamus jianshuiensis                LAOTIAN WHITE  BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin: LAOS, CHINA                          RARE

Up to 60' x 5"                                                   Hardy to 22`F                                      SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  A  tall, arching bamboo similar in appearance to D. hamiltonii but with a white powder covering the culms. Leaves are large and wide and very attractive.  Culms are strong and used for construction. Grows to 5000 ft. elevation so may be cold hardier than previously reported.

 

Dendrocalamus latiflorus 'Mei-nung'                MEI-NUNG BAMBOO                    

TIMBER, ORNAMENTAL                                         Origin:  TAIWAN                      RARE

Up to 65' tall x 8" diam.                       Hardy to 22`F              FULL SUN                               SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION: A useful bamboo of value for its timber, as an ornamental plant, and for its sweet edible shoots. It is light green with random dark green stripes. It is used for water pipes, light construction and

 to make rafts. The splits are used for weaving.

 

Dendrocalamus minor                  DWARF GIANT  BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin: CHINA                                                  RARE

Up to 26' x 2 ¼"                                   Hardy to 15`F                                                  SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  The perfect "Giant" bamboo for the small urban garden. A  favorite landscape plant in California, it has large leaves and the tropical look yet it doesn't get tall enough to freak out the neighbors. The culms are thick walled, strong and useful wherever smaller poles are needed. It is possibly the hardiest member of the genus, unfazed even in the upper  teens.

 

Dendrocalamus minor amoenus   ANGEL MIST BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                     Origin: CHINA                                               RARE

Up to 26' x 2 ¼"                                      Hardy to 15`F                                               SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  Similar  to the normal type but with larger leaves and dark green stripes on a yellow to light-green culm.  A plant much in demand by collectors and landscapers.

 

Dendrocalamus validus                           DR. SEUSS BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin: CHINA                                                  RARE

Up to 60' x  5"                                     Hardy to 18`F  (or lower)                                 SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  A giant bamboo with a wild look.  This bamboo has tall, thick walled, dark green culms that arch gracefully in all directions. The leaves are large and prominent, the nodes convex and the internodes are concave in profile giving the plant the appearance of a bamboo as it might be drawn in a "Dr. Seuss" book. The culm sheaths are greenish purple-red or orange red. The poles are durable and used in construction or as carrying poles. It belongs to the subgenus Dendrocalamopsis and is thus related to Bambusa oldhamii, B. edulis, and B. beecheyana, so it may be much more cold tolerant than presently thought.

 

Dendrocalamus strictus               MALE BAMBOO                 

CONSTRUCTION                             Origin:   INDIA, BURMA & THAILAND

Up to 60' tall x 5" dia.                           Hardy to 19`F                                                  FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  Perhaps the most commercially important bamboo in India. It has solid culms and is widely used for construction and paper pulp. It is one of the most drought tolerant bamboos growing in semi-arid areas and also in the foothills of the Himalayas in areas with occasional frost.

 

Dinochloa scandens                     BLACK CLIMBING BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  INDONESIA                                        RARE

Up to 30' x ½” dia.                               Hardy to 25`F ( or lower)                                 PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION: As the name suggests, this is a scandent, or climbing bamboo. It has rough, black culms with a one-way grip, like shark skin, so that it can hang on to a tree without needing tendrils like most vines do.  Small pieces of the wood can be used to file soft materials. It grows in dense, impenetrable thickets as a pioneer plant in Java and Sumatra but in the home it can hang in a pot and grow like a "Wandering Jew". The attractive leaves are short, wide and oval shaped.

 

 

 

Gigantochloa albociliata              FIELD BAMBOO                

FURNITURE BUILDING                   Origin:  THAILAND, BURMA                                       RARE

Up to 30' tall x 2" dia.   Hardy to 25`F (survived 19`F for short periods)   PART SHADE      EDIBLE SHOOTS

DESCRIPTION:  A tight clumping bamboo with straight, hard poles used for making furniture, fences, and farm implements. It is also split for weaving. The culms are light gray-green with occasional white stripes on the larger ones.

 

Gigantochloa apus                                    STRING BAMBOO  (PRING TALI)                      

FURNITURE, WEAVING                   Origin:  INDONESIA                                                    RARE

Up to 65' tall x 4" diam.                                   Hardy to 25`F                                                              FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  A very useful bamboo common in Java. It is used for utensils, furniture, rope, string, basketry and for the construction of roofing, walls, scaffolding and bridges. Can be very finely split for weaving.

 

Gigantochloa atroviolacea          TROPICAL BLACK BAMBOO                

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, FURNITURE, ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  JAVA, SUMATRA

Up to 40' tall x 4" dia.               Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN                   EDIBLE SHOOTS      RARE

DESCRIPTION: One of the most beautiful bamboos, with purple-black culms having random lime-green stripes. The culm wall is thin but the wood is hard, so it is much in demand for making high-end furniture. It is also used to make traditional Indonesian musical instruments.

 

Gigantochloa atter                         PRING LEGI BAMBOO                             

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, FURNITURE, ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  INDONESIA

Up to 100' tall x 4" dia.                         Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN                   EDIBLE SHOOTS      RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A spectacular bamboo with large, upright leaves and erect habit of growth. It is used in Java for construction of all kinds and also for making bamboo xylophone type instruments. It is relatively thin walled but very strong.  The shoots are edible and delicious.

 

Gigantochloa pseudoarundinaceae = G. maxima     GIANT CREAM-STRIPE BAMBOO

FURNITURE, ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  INDONESIA, CHINA

Up to 100' tall x 5" dia.                         Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN                   EDIBLE SHOOTS      RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A giant bamboo used for construction and making furniture. Culms attractively striped with cream or yellow stripes. There are many regional variations in the color of stripes.

 

Gigantochloa sp. 'Sumatra'                     SUMATRAN GIANT BAMBOO                

FURNITURE, ORNAMENTAL                      Origin:  SUMATRA (INDONESIA)                   RARE

Up to 60'+  tall  x 4" dia.                                  Hardy to 25`F              SUN/SHADE               EDIBLE SHOOTS

DESCRIPTION:  A  beautiful giant bamboo with purple stripes on dark green canes. The strong poles are used for  construction.

 

Guadua amplexifolia                     CENTRAL AMERICAN THORNY BAMBOO                

CONSTRUCTION                             Origin:  S. MEXICO to COLOMBIA and VENEZUELA

Up to 60' tall x 4" dia.                           Hardy to 28`F              FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  large, arching, thorny, timber bamboo used for construction. The base of the culm is solid. The wood is reported to be durable. One of the northernmost growing species of Guadua. Rare in the U.S.

 

Guadua angustifolia bicolor                    STRIPED GIANT THORNY BAMBOO               

CONSTRUCTION                                         Origin:   COLOMBIA, ECUADOR

Up to 100' tall x 8" dia.                                     Hardy to 30`F                          FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  very useful timber bamboo used for house building in Colombia and Costa Rica. The plant is armed with wicked thorns and makes an impenetrable barrier. It is naturally resistant to insect and fungal damage. This is a very rare form with yellow stripes on the green culms.  Should grow in Phoenix.

 

 

 

 

Guadua angustifolia 'less thorny'          GIANT LESS-THORNY BAMBOO                      

CONSTRUCTION                                         Origin:   COLOMBIA, ECUADOR

Up to 100' tall x 8" dia.                                     Hardy to 30`F              FULL SUN                               RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A  very useful timber bamboo used for house building in Colombia and Costa Rica. The plant is armed with fewer wicked thorns but still makes an impenetrable barrier. It is naturally resistant to insect and fungal damage..  Should grow in Phoenix.

 

Guadua chacoensis                      CHACO GIANT THORNY BAMBOO                  

CONSTRUCTION                             Origin:  ARGENTINA

Up to 85' tall x 7" dia.                           Hardiness unknown                FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A large,erect-growing, thorny, timber bamboo used for house construction. The wood is reported to be even more durable than G. angustifolia. Rare in the U.S.

 

Guadua velutina                                         VELVET THORNY BAMBOO                  

CONSTRUCTION                                         Origin:   MEXICO

Up to 50' tall x 4" dia.                                       Hardy to 25`F              FULL SUN                               RARE

DESCRIPTION: The northernmost species of Guadua, growing about 200 miles south of Brownsville, Texas.  The wood is durable like most members of the genus and the plant is, also like the others, armed with sharp thorns. A plant in Tucson has survived brief exposures in the mid teens, albeit with significant damage to new growth.

 

Neohouzeaua mekongensis                   HOUZEAU'S MEKONG BAMBOO                      

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  VIETNAM

Up to 35' tall x 2" diam.                                               Hardy to 24`F              SUN  to  PART SHADE          RARE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive landscape plant with large, wide leaves and few lower branches. It makes a tight clump.  Can be planted as a semi-scandent (climbing) understory.

 

Ochlandra stridula                                                 REED BAMBOO                 

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:   SRI LANKA                                                    RARE

Up to 18' tall x 3/4" dia.                                                Hardy to below 15`F (limit unknown)                   FULL SUN 

DESCRIPTION:  A shrubby reed-like bamboo with  large, dark-green leaves and oval culms. The plant is amphipodial, making a clump then running a short distance and making another clump. It is a great plant for erosion control or for a dense hedge.

 

Otatea acuminata acuminata                  POINTED BAMBOO                      

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:  EASTERN  MEXICO                                      RARE

Up to 15' tall x 0.7" dia.                                                Hardy to 28`F              FULL SUN       SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  A  small, delicate looking bamboo with narrow pointed leaves. The name refers to the seeds of the plant which are very sharply pointed. Like most bamboos, it rarely flowers.

 

Otatea acuminata aztecorum                  MEXICAN WEEPING BAMBOO              

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:  SONORA, MEXICO

Up to 20' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                 Hardy to 18`F              FULL SUN       SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:   One of the most attractive bamboos. It has long, narrow leaves that dance in the wind. It makes a beautiful hedge.The solid poles are useful for frames, supports or walking sticks. The tasty shoots are guarded by sheaths armed with sharp hairs.  A  native plant for Southwest landscaping.

 

Otatea glauca                                  MAYAN SILVER BAMBOO                      

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  CHIAPAS HIGHLANDS,  MEXICO

Maximum size unknown                     Hardiness unknown    FULL SUN  TO PART SHADE           RARE

DESCRIPTION:   A beautiful and little known bamboo from Central Mexico. It has larger leaves and thicker stems than the Mexican Weeping Bamboo. The canes are covered with a white powder which, against the dark green background, gives the plant a silvery look. Mature plants are stunningly beautiful.

 

 

Otatea fimbriata                              FRINGED BAMBOO                      

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  MEXICO to NORTHERN COLOMBIA

Up to 14' tall x 0.7" dia.                                    Hardy to 24`F     FULL SUN    TO PART SHADE                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:   A pretty Central American bamboo with leaves up to a foot long and ¾" wide. The culms have a waxy, whitish coating which is very distinctive. The new shoots have a dark purple band at each node.

 

 

RUNNING BAMBOOS

 

Arundinaria gigantea gigantea               RIVER  CANE                                 

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:  UNITED STATES

Up to 20' x 1" diam.                                         Hardy to  -10`F                                    FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  The only North American species of  bamboo. Useful poles. Good livestock forage. Makes an attractive landscape plant with long, dark leaves and persistant sheaths. Used to grow from southern Ohio to  the Gulf of Mexico and from east Texas to the east coast.

 

Arundinaria gigantea tecta                      SWITCH CANE                               

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:  UNITED STATES

Up to 6' x 1/2" diam.                                        Hardy to  -10`F                                    FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  A smaller subspecies of the only North American bamboo. It has air channels in its rhizomes enabling it to tolerate wetter conditions than most bamboos. Small, useful poles. Good livestock forage. Makes an attractive landscape plant with long, dark leaves and persistant sheaths.

 

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis                   SQUARE BAMBOO                                   

LANDSCAPE                                                              Origin:  CHINA

Up to 25' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                             Hardy to 15` F                         PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  Unusual bamboo having square stems  with rounded corners. Slow growing. Prominent nodes.

 

Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima'    SHIROSHIMA BAMBOO               

ORNAMENTAL                                                          Origin:   JAPAN

Up to 16' tall x 1 1/3" dia.                                             Hardy to 0`F                SUN to PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  Thought to be a natural hybrid between Sasa veitchii and Phyllostachys nigra henonis. A beautiful plant with dark green foliage striped with cream. The leaves are thick and leathery making the plant very drought tolerant. Makes a striking accent in the garden. Slow spreading.

 

Indocalamus tesselatus                           LARGE LEAF BAMBOO               

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:   CHINA

Up to 7' tall x 1/2" dia.                                      Hardy to 0`F                            SHADE  to PART SUN

DESCRIPTION:  Usually grows to only 4' tall. This species has the largest leaves of any bamboo, measuring up to 26" long and 4" wide. Adapts well to growing in a pot.

 

Phyllostachys atrovaginata ( =  P. congesta )                        INCENSE BAMBOO                      

HEDGE                                                                                               Origin:  CHINA

Up to 25' tall x 2 1/4" dia.                                                         Hardy to  -15`F            FULL SUN       EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:   A useful running bamboo with tight clumps of strong , useful poles. The shoots are delicious even when raw. Great for hedges, screens or windbreaks.

 

Phyllostachys aurea                     GOLDEN BAMBOO                       

HEDGE                                                           Origin:   CHINA

Up to 30' tall x 2" dia.   Hardy to 0`F    PART SHADE (DESERT), FULL SUN (MOUNTAINS)  EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  Also called "Fishpole Bamboo", this is one of the most commonly seen bamboos in the U.S. It has strong wood with attractive, compacted internodes near the base of the culm. Quick spreading, it makes a good hedge or screen. Makes great walking sticks.

 

Phyllostachys aurea 'Flavescens inversa'                  BICOLOR GOLDEN BAMBOO              

HEDGE                                                                                               Origin:   CHINA                      

Up to 30' tall x 2" dia.   Hardy to 0`F    PART SHADE (DESERT), FULL SUN (MOUNTAINS)  EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  Like Golden Bamboo but has green canes with a yellow groove. It has strong wood with attractive, compacted internodes near the base of the culm. Quick spreading, it makes a good hedge or screen. Makes great walking sticks.

 

Phyllostachys aurea 'Koi'                        KOI GOLDEN BAMBOO               

HEDGE                                                           Origin:   CHINA

Up to 30' tall x 2" dia.   Hardy to 0`F    PART SHADE (DESERT), FULL SUN (MOUNTAINS)  EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  Like Golden Bamboo  except  the canes turn yellow after 6 months but the grooves remain green.  It has strong wood with attractive, compacted internodes near the base of the culm. Quick spreading, it makes a good hedge or screen. Makes great walking sticks.

 

Phyllostachys aureosulcata                   GOLDEN GROOVE BAMBOO                

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:   CHINA

Up to 26' tall x 1 1/2"  diam.                            Hardy to  -10`F                        FULL SUN           EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful, slender bamboo used for hedges, windbreaks, erosion control or as a landscape plant. Culms are green with a yellow groove. Occasional zig-zag culms.  A  very good performer under harsh desert conditions.

 

Phyllostachys aureosulcata spectabilis          GREEN GROOVE BAMBOO                   

HEDGE                                                                                   Origin:   CHINA

Up to 26' tall x 1 1/2"  diam.                                        Hardy to  -10`F            FULL SUN                   RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful, showy, slender bamboo used for hedges, windbreaks, erosion control or as an exceptional landscape plant. Culms are yellow with a green groove, often ziz-zag.  Uncommon.

 

Phyllostachys bambusoides                  JAPANESE TIMBER BAMBOO   (MADAKE)   

TIMBER                                                         Origin:  JAPAN

Up to 72' tall x 5" diam.             Hardy to 5`F    FULL SUN (MOUNTAINS)TO PART SHADE (DESERT)    EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A strong, useful bamboo used to make shakuhachi flutes. It is the most utilized bamboo in Japan. Culms are straight and thick walled.

 

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Allgold'              ALLGOLD TIMBER BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                                                       Origin:  JAPAN

Up to 35' tall x 2" diam.                                                           Hardy to 5`F                FULL SUN       SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  One of the most beautiful running bamboos which has golden yellow culms with an occasional thin green stripe. The leaves are decorated with white variegations. Wood is strong and usefull.

 

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillon'          CASTILLON BAMBOO                 

ORNAMENTAL                                                          Origin:  JAPAN

Up to 35' tall x 2" diam.                                                           Hardy to 5`F                FULL SUN       SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful form of madake,  a strong, useful bamboo used to make shakuhachi flutes. The leaves are striped in yellow, and the culms are golden yellow with green grooves. An exceptional landscape plant.

 

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillon Inversa'                   JADE GROOVE BAMBOO           

ORNAMENTAL                                                                                  Origin:  JAPAN

Up to 35' tall x 2" diam.                       Hardy to 5`F                FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE      RARE

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful form of P. bambusoides. The leaves are striped in yellow, and the culms are green with yellow grooves. An exceptional landscape plant.

 

Phyllostachys dulcis                     SWEETSHOOT BAMBOO

SHOOTS, ORNAMENTAL                Origin: CHINA

Up to 40' tall x 2.8" diam.                    Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive green bamboo with arching culms. The shoots are sweet and tasty.

 

Phyllostachys glauca                   GLEAMING BAMBOO                               

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  CHINA

Up to 32' tall x 2" diam.                                   Hardy to 5`F                FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  Young culms are covered with a bluish-white powder making  this a very attractive plant. The poles are hard and useful as frame supports or farm tool handles. Strips are used for weaving.

 

Phyllostachys heteroclada purpurata              WATER BAMBOO                         

ORNAMENTAL                                                          Origin:  CHINA

Up to 33' tall x 1 ½" diam.                                           Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN       SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A slender bamboo with near-solid stems used for weaving or light construction. The shoots are edible and delicious.

 

Phyllostachys makinoi                 MAKINO BAMBOO                        

ORNAMENTAL.POLES                    Origin:  CHINA

Up to 60' tall x 3" diam.                                   Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  Similar to P. vivax but with much stronger wood, favored in Taiwan for splitting and weaving. The wood is said to be second only to Moso (among the running bamboos) for quality, strength and ease of splitting. The nodes are non-prominent and are encircled with a white band.  Culms are whitish-green and covered with a bluish powder.

 

Phyllostachys manni decora                  BEAUTIFUL BAMBOO                             

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  S. CHINA, N. INDIA, THAILAND

Up to 30' tall x 1 3/4" diam.                             Hardy to -5`F               FULL SUN       SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  Considered one of the most attractive medium size running bamboos due to the graceful shape of the leaves. It is one of the best performing bamboos under cold, dry, windy or desert conditions. A good bamboo for Utah, Nevada and northern New Mexico and Arizona.

 

Phyllostachys meyerii                  MEYER'S BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin: CHINA

Up to 32' x 2" dia.                                Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN                   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A medium-sized,  green bamboo, similar in appearance to Golden Bamboo, but without having compacted internodes.  Poles are useful for frames and craftwork.

 

Phyllostachys nidularia                BROOM BAMBOO                         

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  CHINA

Up to 33' tall x 1 1/2" diam.                 Hardy to 5`F                FULL SUN                   SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  Nodes are enlarged and convex making this an attractive landscape plant. The culms are thin walled and used for fences or walls of sheds. It also makes a good hedge.

 

Phyllostachys nigra                      BLACK BAMBOO                          

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:   CHINA

Up to 30' tall x 2" dia.                           Hardy to 0`F                PART SHADE to FULL SUN               EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A beautiful bamboo with bright green leaves on culms that turn jet black after about one year. The wood is hard and used for making furniture. Grows largest in cooler climates. A very graceful plant.

 

Phyllostachys  nigra  boryana                LEOPARDSKIN BAMBOO                       

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  CHINA

Up to 50' tall x 3" diam.                                               Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN                               EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A giant form of black bamboo which becomes blotched with a mosaic of brown and black.  Makes a spectacular landscape plant.  The straight, hard poles are useful and decorative.

 

Phyllostachys  nigra  'Daikokuchiku'   CALIFORNIA BLACK BAMBOO            

LANDSCAPE                                                  Origin:  Clone from California

Up to 57' tall x 3.3" diam.                                Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN                   EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: A clone of Black Bamboo with culms larger  than the normal type and which are reported to turn black more quiclky.

 

 

Phyllostachys nigra  henonis                 HENON BAMBOO             

LANDSCAPE                                                  Origin: CHINA

Up to 65' tall  x 4 1/2" diam.                            Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN       SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: A fast growing, attractive bamboo with white powdery skin. It performs well in desert climates. The poles are quite strong and useful. The edible, new shoots are red and white.

 

Phyllostachys nigra megurochiku        MEGUROCHIKU BAMBOO

LANDSCAPE                                                  Origin: CHINA                                      RARE

Up to 54" tall x 3 ½" diam.                               Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN       SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: Similar to Henon but with brown or purplish-black culm grooves.

 

Phyllostachys nigra  punctata                GIANT BLACK BAMBOO             

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin: CHINA                                      RARE

Up to 60' x 4"                                                   Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN       SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: The largest all-black bamboo. Culms develop spots in the first year, turn purple the second year and black the third year.

 

Phyllostachys nigra Shimadake                        ISLAND BAMBOO

LANDSCAPE                                                  Origin: CHINA                                      RARE

Up to 54" tall x 3 ½" diam.                               Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN       SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: Similar to Henon but with occasional brown stripes on the culm after a year.

 

Phyllostachys  nuda                                 NUDE SHEATH BAMBOO                       

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:  CHINA

Up to 34' tall x 1 3/4" diam.                             Hardy to  -20`F            SUN/SHADE   SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  The hardiest member of the genus. Culms and foliage remain dark green and new culms are powdery making this a very attractive landscape plant.

 

Phyllostachys rubromarginata               RED MARGIN BAMBOO   (RUBRO)      

HEDGE                                                                       Origin:   CHINA

Up to 55' tall x 2 3/4" dia.                                 Hardy to -5`F               FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  A very drought resistant bamboo with good quality wood and edible shoots. Withstands harsh, cold, dry winds or desert heat equally well. Quick spreading and good for erosion control, even on steep slopes. Doesn't grow as tall in hot climates, making it a good hedge plant.

 

Phyllostachys viridis                                 GREEN BAMBOO

LANDSCAPE                                                  Origin:  CHINA

Up to 47' tall x 3 1/2" diam.                             Hardy to 0`F        FULL SUN               SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  A large, beautiful landscape plant with high quality wood and tasty shoots. Culms remain green except where exposed to strong sun on the edge of the grove.  The surface of the culm feels rough to the touch.

 

Phyllostachys viridis 'Houzeau'                        HOUZEAU BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  CHINA

Up to 45' tall x 3" diam.                                               Hardy to 0`F        FULL SUN               SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  A large, beautiful bamboo with green culms and deep-yellow culm grooves. The wood is high quality and very decorative. Sometimes zig-zags near the base.

 

Phyllostachys viridis 'Robert Young'   ROBERT YOUNG (GREENSTRIPE BAMBOO)           

LANDSCAPE                                                  Origin:  CHINA

Up to 40' tall x 3 1/2" diam.                             Hardy to 0`F        FULL SUN               SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  A large, beautiful landscape plant with high quality wood and tasty shoots. The culms turn bright yellow streaked at random by vertical green stripes of varying width. Very drought tolerant. 

 

 

 

Phyllostachys vivax                                  ELEGANT BAMBOO                     

GIANT                                                             Origin:   CHINA

Up to 70' tall x 5" dia.                                       Hardy to -5`F               FULL SUN       SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION: A graceful, giant bamboo with thin-walled culms that dance in the wind. Makes a wonderful shady grove when mature. Thrives under dry conditions with alkaline soils and hard water. Can be used to make musical instruments. Perhaps the best running bamboo in the desert.

 

Phyllostachys vivax  aureocaulis          STRIPED ELEGANT BAMBOO              

GIANT                                                             Origin:   CHINA                        RARE

Up to 70' tall x 5" dia.                                       Hardy to -5`F               FULL SUN       SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION: Similar to regular form but culms are yellow with dark-green stripes.  Makes a wonderful shady grove when mature. Thrives under dry conditions with alkaline soils and hard water. Can be used to make musical instruments. Perhaps the best running bamboo in the desert.

 

Pleioblastus chino 'Kimmei'        KIMM'S VARIEGATED BAMBOO                       

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  JAPAN

Up to 10' tall x .08" diam.                    Hardy to 10`F              SHADE                        SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A small, attractive bamboo with long, dark, narrow leaves with occasional yellow stripes. The culms are yellow with a green groove tinged with pink.  Suitable for a small planter or patio space.

 

Pleioblastus gramineus               GRASS BAMBOO                          

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  JAPAN

Up to 15' tall x 5/8" diam.                    Hardy to 10`F              PART SHADE             NOT EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A  small, pretty bamboo with long, narrow, grass-like leaves. Grown as a hedgerow in England.  The shoots are bitter and not edible.

 

Pleioblastus simonii                      MEDAKE BAMBOO                                   

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  JAPAN

Up to 20' tall x 1 1/2" diam.                 Hardy to 0`F                PART SHADE             SHOOTS EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION:  A medium sized bamboo with straight poles used for making fishing poles, cages and fans. Somewhat slow spreading. Can be grown in a container.

 

Pseudosasa japonica                   ARROW BAMBOO                         

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:   JAPAN

Up to 18' tall x 3/4" dia.                                    Hardy to 0`F                HALF SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive, slow-running bamboo with large leaves up to a foot long. The culms were used to make arrows in ancient Japan. Spreads very slowly compared to other runners.

 

Pseudosasa japonica tsutsumiana       GREEN ONION BAMBOO            

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:   JAPAN

Up to 18' tall x 3/4" dia.                                                Hardy to 0`F                HALF SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive, slow-running bamboo with large leaves up to a foot long. The internodes are partly swollen, resembling the shape of a green onion. Spreads very slowly compared to other runners.

 

Qiongzhuea tumidinoda              QIONG ZHU BAMBOO                  

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:  CHINA                                     RARE

Up to 20' tall x 1 1/3" dia.                     Hardy to 10` F             PART SHADE             SHOOTS DELICIOUS

DESCRIPTION:  Unusual bamboo having narrow, delicate leaves and large, inflated nodes. It is famous for making walking sticks.  A very rare plant.

 

Sasa palmata                                   PALM BAMBOO                             

ORNAMENTAL                                  Origin:   JAPAN

Up to 7' x 1/2" dia.                               Hardy to -5`F                           SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  An attractive dwarf bamboo with thick, leathery leaves up to 15" long and 2 1/2" wide. It prefers a shady environment and grows tallest in a cool climate. Tolerates desert heat.

 

Sasaella masamuniana albostriata       DWARF CREAM-STRIPE BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin: JAPAN

Up to 6" x 0.3" dia.                                           Hardy to 0`F                PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  A variegated groundcover bamboo with green leaves striped heavily with cream. The leaves are thick enabling it to perform better in hot climates than some of the other groundcover bamboos.

 

Semiarundinaria fastuosa           RED TEMPLE BAMBOO              

ORNAMENTAL                                  ORIGIN:   JAPAN

Up to 30' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                     Hardy to -5`F               FULL SUN                  

DESCRIPTION:  Also called "Stately Bamboo" due to its erect growth habit. Extremely drought tolerant. Slow to spread. Makes a good windbreak and tolerates a sea breeze. The culms turn red-orange in sun. Branches are short and densely foliated making it a very effective privacy screen.

 

Semiarundinaria fastuosa viridis           GREEN TEMPLE BAMBOO                                

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:   JAPAN

Up to 30' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                 Hardy to -5`F               FULL SUN      

DESCRIPTION:  Also called "Stately Bamboo" due to its erect growth habit. Extremely drought tolerant. Slow to spread. Makes a good windbreak and tolerates a sea breeze. The culms remain green even in sun. Branches are short and densely foliated making it a very effective privacy screen.

 

Semiarundinaria yashadake                   YASHADAKE (RED) BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:   JAPAN

Up to 25' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                 Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  Similar to the Temple bamboos but with wider leaves. Culms turn red when exposed to sun.

 

Semiarundinaria yashadake 'Kimmei   GREEN-STRIPE TEMPLE BAMBOO

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:   JAPAN

Up to 25' tall x 1 1/2" dia.                                 Hardy to 0`F                FULL SUN

DESCRIPTION:  Similar in appearance to Temple Bamboo with short, tufted branches and dense foliage but culms are yellow with green grooves on opposite sides. The leaves are striped with yellow.  Very attractive.

 

Shibatea kumasaca aureostriata                       DWARF GOLDSTRIPE

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:   JAPAN

Up to 7' tall x 1/3" dia.                                      Hardy to -5`F               PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION: A variegated groundcover bamboo with green leaves striped heavily with cream or gold. Suitable for borders, planters or shady windowboxes.

 

Sinobambusa gigantea                            GIANT TEMPLE BAMBOO                      

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  CHINA                                     RARE

Up to 55' tall x 4" dia.                                       Hardy to 10`F              FULL SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  A  tall, erect, graceful bamboo with a beautiful band of long, purple hairs around each node on new shoots. It is quick spreading and good for erosion control. Culms are solid.

 

Sinobambusa intermedia                         SHRINE BAMBOO             

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  CHINA                                     RARE

Up to 16' tall x 1" dia.                                       Hardy to 10`F              SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  A  short attractive bamboo with internodes up to 2 feet long.  Culms aer rough to the touch and nearly solid. Slow growing.

 

Sinobambusa tootsik albostriata           STRIPED TEMPLE BAMBOO                 

ORNAMENTAL                                              Origin:  CHINA                         RARE

Up to 32' tall x 1 ½" dia.                                  Hardy to 10`F              SUN TO PART SHADE

DESCRIPTION:  A  beautiful bamboo with a very elegant way of holding its leaves. The leaves are heavily variegated with cream or white. Slow spreading at first but vigorous once established.

 

 

OTHER PLANTS

 

Acacia angustissima                     FERN ACACIA        

ORNAMENTAL          6' tall               Origin: S. ARIZONA, CHIHUAHUA                  Hardy to 15`F

DESCRIPTION:  An unusual, attractive, thornless Acacia with white flowers and finely pinnate, light gray-green leaves.

 

Acacia salicina                                WEEPING WILLOW ACACIA

ORNAMENTAL          30-40' tall        Origin: AUSTRALIA                                         Hardy to 18`F

DESCRIPTION:  A handsome evergreen tree, naturally resistant to heat, alkalike soils and prolonged drought. It is thornless makes a good shade tree in low desert areas.

 

Caesalpinia gilliesii                       YELLOW BIRD OF PARADISE

ORNAMENTAL          5-10' tall          Origin:MEXICO                                             Hardy to 20`F

DESCRIPTION:  A  popular garden shrub or small tree with long-lasting yellow petals and long red stamens. It can be many trunked or single. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and is very drought resistant.

 

Capsicum sp.                                  HYBRID CHILTECPIN

EDIBLE                                  2-6'+ tall          Origin: Cultivar            PART SHADE             Hardy to 20`F

DESCRIPTION:  Small, oval to pointed, red, medium-hot peppers. A cross between Thai Dragon peppers and "Nogales Giant" chili tepins. Delicious in meat dishes or sauces.

 

Commelina erecta                          DAYFLOWER

ORNAMENTAL                      ~2' tall              Origin: ASIA, long in cultivation in U.S.           Deciduous

DESCRIPTION:  An Asian plant long naturalized in the U.S. commonly seen growing along roadways and moist meadows in southwest mountains in the rainy season. Beautiful blue flowers bloom in the morning. Sun or shade. Flowers persist longer if grown in  the shade. Perennial ground cover.

 

Cymbopogon citratus                   LEMON GRASS

COOKING      3' TALL            Hardy to 18`F              FULL SUN       Origin:  PAN TROPICAL

DESCRIPTION:  Much used for cooking in Southeast Asia especially Thailand and Indonesia. All parts of the plant contain real lemon bioflavonoids as found in citrus lemon. This plant is also the source of citronella, used widely to repel mosquitoes.

 

Iris sp.                                                            BEARDED IRIS

ORNAMENTAL                      to 3' tall            Origin: cultivar             FULL SUN                   Hardy to 25`F

DESCRIPTION:  A popular iris with large purple flowers, yellow deep in the center. Leaves are evergreen and very heat tolerant. Blooms in March or April in Tucson.

 

Nicotiana glauca                             DESERT TREE TOBACCO

ORNAMENTAL                      to 26' tall          Origin: S. America, naturallized in S. W. deserts       Hardy to 15`F

DESCRIPTION: Probably the tallest member of the tobacco family, it has large silvery-gray-green leaves and long, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers. Much favored by hummingbirds. They live for about 4-5 years.

 

Parthenocissus inserta                VIRGINIA CREEPER

VINE                Origin: Southern U.S. , mountain canyons in southwest U.S.                       Deciduous

DESCRIPTION:  Long, creeping vines with attractive multilobed leaves, arranged in patterns of 5. The leaves turn red in the fall adding some "fall colors" to the desert yard. Looks best if grown in part shade.

 

Phoenix canariensis                      ORNAMENTAL DATE PALM

ORNAMENTAL                      to 50' tall          Origin: CANARY ISLANDS     FULL SUN       Hardy to 20`F

DESCRIPTION: Tall, stately palms with dark green leaves up to 20' long.

 

Psidium catelya                               YELLOW GUAVA   

EDIBLE FRUIT                                  to 20' tall          Origin: S. American tropics    PART SUN      Hardy to 20`F

DESCRIPTION: Grown throughout the tropics for its tasty yellow fruit. Large, oval, dark green leaves.

Deciduous in Tucson winters. Trunk can be damaged in smaller plants if temperatures dip into the teens.

Saccharum sp.                               SUGAR CANE        

COOKING      Up to 20' tall              Origin: PAN TROPICAL          Hardy to mid 20's        SUN

Chewing the fibrous stalk is a favorite among chidren all over. This is the real McCoy, and it's easy to grow.

 

Tulbaghia violacea                         SOCIETY GARLIC

EDIBLE                      ~1' tall              SUN TO PART SHADE                      Hardy to 15`F

DESCRIPTION: Similar in appearance and culinary use to chives. The leaves are flat and striped with white making it also attractive as a garden accent. The brilliant purple flowers appear in late summer.

 

Vallesia baileyana                                     NACAPULE JASMINE                                           RARE

FRAGRANT HEDGE    Up to 12' tall             Hardy to below 19`F                FULL SUN TO PART SHADE

Origin: This rare plant is found  in three canyons in southern Sonora.

DESCRIPTION: Vallesia has small, white flowers which are produced all summer long. The fragrance is incredibly sweet. The lance shaped leaves are about 3" long and have a deep green color.

 

Washingtonia robusta                  MEXICAN FAN PALM

LANDSCAPE  Up to 80' tall    Origin:  N. MEXICO, SW ARIZONA        FULL SUN                 Hardy to 18`F

DESCRIPTION:  A  cold-hardy palm commonly grown as a landscape plant in Tucson and Phoenix. The large, fan shaped leaves make good thatching for ramadas.

 

Yucca sp.                              VARIEGATED YUCCA

ORNAMENTAL          Origin: CULTIVATION          FULL SUN                  Hardy to 15`F

DESCRIPTION:  One of the smaller forms of Yucca, with white stripes along the leaves.

 

Visits by appointment only.  Call 520-743-9879 or email bambooranch@juno.com

for prices and availability. No credit cards. All mail orders must be prepaid by check or money order.