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Black Bamboo | White Bamboo
The
first, most important thing to know about the blue bamboos is that the
blueness is, for the most part, a product of new bloom powder on the new
canes. As these canes mature the blueness may morph into various shades
of green, ranging from emerald to mustard.
THE COLORS IN THESE PHOTOS HAVE NOT BEEN MANIPULATED.
Traditionally, in the nursery trade, what has been referred to as "blue
bamboo" has been Himalayacalamus hookerianus. In the past this bamboo
was called Drepanostachym falcatum. This is indeed a gorgeous plant and
the one that is most significantly blue. However, there are other bamboos
that have similar periods of blueness and these others might be more appropriate
depending on your project.
HIMALAYACALAMUS HOOKERIANUS
- the artist previously known as Drepanostachym falcatum, is a very upright
bamboo. In the landscape this bamboo will grow approximately 30 feet tall.
We are told that on the mainland it does not exceed 20 feet but we do not
really know the truth of this in any given environment. In it's natural
habitat it is what is called an "understory" plant, which means
that it grows under the taller forest canopy. This strongly implies the
need for filtered light when grown outdoors. In Hawaii it is a perfect mauka
plant, enjoying the cool mists. It is also used extensively as a container
plant both indoors and out. Extremely statuesque it has great bones and
gorgeous coloration ranging from maroon to true aqua canes. The aquamarine
canes fade over time (generally about a season) to a mustard yellow. Then
the new blue canes come again, usually in about may and again in September.
Outdoors it cannot be in direct sun. In the interior it wants light but
not a lot of hot direct light. Atriums or well-lit rooms are fine. Please
see our section on interiorscape.
When we use this plant in containers we tend to prune out some of the previous
years growth to allow for the full effect of the startling new aquamarine
canes. In the landscape this plant is rated to 15 degrees but we think 20
degrees is a safer number to work with.
DENDROCALAMUS
MINOR - One
of our new favorites. A beautiful single specimen or anything. The
right height and configuration for many applications. Not too big – not
too small – just right. Relatively erect, with nodding tops,
this plant is graceful with a moderate footprint. Like Bambusa chungii,
the new canes of this bamboo are covered in lots of white powder making
this plant look like it has white or blue canes when the canes are
new.
DREPANOSTACHYM
KHASYANUM - is another blue bamboo that we use in much the same way
as the Himalayacalamus hookerianus. Again, this is an "understory"
plant but this one is a shorter stature plant. In the landscape as well
as in containers it will
need a similar environment to the Himalayacalamus hookerianus. In Hawaii
it grows to about 20 feet tall. We are told it is somewhat shorter on the
mainland. This plant is not quite as upright as the hookerianus. The leaves
at the end of the canes are the largest (and heaviest) and tend to pull
the canes downward in an extremely graceful arc. In situations where we
need a more upright profile we prune the tips of the canes until we remove
enough weight for the canes to spring upright. The blue on this bamboo is
a bit more subtle than the himalayacalamus hookerianus but when this blue
fades you are left with highly polished emerald green canes that sport white
and maroon bands around each internode. People fall in love with this one
all the time.
BAMBUSA
TEXTILIS - is a plant not often referred to as a blue bamboo but to
our eye it is as blue as the others when it is in it's shooting period,
usually twice a year - may and September approximately. This is a taller
more versatile plant. In the landscape it can be in either full sun or partial
shade. It is equally successful from the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest
to the resorts on the Kona coast. It is good down to 15 degrees and can
withstand the hot dry winds of southern California or the islands. This
one is always perfect and what I planted in front of my house. Love it,
love it, love it. Terrific in containers
for the interior as well as in the landscape.
see
Blue Bamboo
Traditionally,
the black bamboo that most English speaking people are familiar with is
phyllostachys nigra. This is a lovely bamboo but it is a temperate running
bamboo and tho happy and healthy in the pacific northwest, does not fare
well in hot weather.
Over the years we have managed to import 3 different true black bamboos
from south east Asia that are appropriate for the tropical and sub tropical
climates of Hawaii, southern California and parts of Texas and Florida.
They are all clumping, non-invasive bamboos. These are all magnificent
plants and they are all substantially different from one another.
BAMBUSA
LAKO - One of our all time favorites. Gorgeous in full sun and harsh
conditions. This plant has one of the most upright and vertical profiles
of any of the clumping bamboos. It is also blessed with a somewhat unusual
rhizome configuration that makes it possible and easy (with selective
pruning beginning in about year 2) to aproach the look of the archetypal
Japanese grove without having the never-ending problems when dealing with
a running bamboo. The black of this bamboo is highly polished with intermittent
green stripes. Depending on what size plant you start with it might not
look black until it's 2nd season. Puts up lovely 4+ inch canes. Terrific
by the ocean and the leaves don't get trashed in heavy winds.
GIGANTOCHLOA
ATROVIOLACEA
- A gorgeous plant. The cane color of this plant is a deep black almost
immediately but the canes are less polished than the bambusa lako. Similar
in height and cane size to the lako (about 40 feet tall and 4" diameter
canes) this bamboo grows in the classic vase shape of the clumping bamboos.
Because of this it is sometimes less versatile than the bambusa lako where
space is an issue.
BLACK
ASPER Dendrocalamus asper betung hitam
- This is "da kine" brah!!! If you have the space and want the
biggest , the baddest, and the rarest, you probably cannot do much better
than this one. In the right environment this bamboo grows up to 80 feet
or more and has canes 8-10 inches in diameter. Black in the same way that
the g. atroviolacea is black this is a killer plant if you have the space
for it. 
see Blue
Bamboo
BAMBUSA
CHUNGII WHITE BAMBOO - A highly sought after and rather spectacular ornamental,
not really white but absolutely gorgeous. Called white bamboo because the
new shoots are covered in soooo much powder to appear white. Canes blueish
greenish. 
Dendrocalamus
Minor - One of our new favorites. Like Bambusa chungii, the new
canes of this bamboo are covered in lots of white powder making this
plant look like it has white or blue canes when the canes are new.
OTATEA
GLAUCA Mayan Silver - New canes have lots of
powder, making the canes look silver/blue, hence it’s name. Similar
in form to its smaller cousin Mexican Weeping Bamboo, this bamboo is slightly
taller. Thrives in the same dry windy conditions.Aloha
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