Sheath Bamboo, Nuda Bamboo

Phyllostachys nuda

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲▼ stems showing ring of white hairs at each node, which is an identifying characteristic for this bamboo

Location near campus:  Japanese Stroll Garden, near south wall and Zen garden area

Phyllostachya nuda:  Sheath Bamboo

·         Asian warm-season, running (creeping perennial) bamboo similar to yellow-groove bamboo that can grow 15-30’ tall

·         Stems emerge yellow-green and turn more yellow with age, maturing to a diameter of ½ to 2” (usually toward the smaller diameter in Missouri)

·         Leaves are dark-green, short and wide, about ½ inch and 3-6 inche long on short branchlets off of main stems—has smaller leaves than other hardy Phyllostachya species

·         Leaf blades are semi-evergreen to evergreen and persist for up to several years

·         Stems are perennial, becoming woody within the first year

·         Plants may take 3-4 years to establish before they begin their rampant spread

·         Spreads by vigorous rhizomes which may grow 10-30’ away from original clump each year after the 3-4 year lag time to become established

·         New shoots appear each spring, growing wider and taller in good spring growing conditions

·         Unwanted shoots are easily mowed down & do not reappear until next spring’s growth flush, but the rhizomes can be covering a very wide area under ground

·         Prefers moist fertile soils, full-sun to part shade; can tolerate drier soils, but with smaller growth

·         Seldom flowers—may take decades—then all flowering stalks will die, but colony does not usually die

·         Cold hardy to Zone 5