Wild Cane

Arundinaria gigantea

Poaceae - The Grass Family

▲▼ colony of wild cane

▲ individual stalk of wild cane

Arundinaria gigantea:  Wild Cane, Wild Bamboo

Location in Springfield:  several locations in Dickerson Park Zoo on north side of town.

·         running (creeping perennial) warm-season bamboo grass that forms thick rhizomes to form colonies with age

·         stems are 1/2 to about 1½ inch in diameter and 5-25 feet tall, usually greenish [yellow-groove bamboo (see below) is similar, but has thicker, taller and more yellow-colored stems]

·         leaf blades are short and broad (1/2-3/4” wide by 3-6” long) on short, stiff, branched side-stems coming off main upright stems

·         Prefers part sun to moderate shade, but can tolerate full sun

·         Prefers moist soils—found along rivers, streams, springs in Missour, but can tolerate upland soils with adequate moisture; prefers fertile soils as well

·         Will spread into lawns or in landscape beds—needs to be confined by wide expanse of pavement to keep from spreading beyond desired area

          ·         May take 50-100 years for a colony to flower, then flowering stems die, but usually entire colony doesn’t die

            ·         Prefers moist, semi-shady sites; found along creeks, rivers, springs

·         Native to Missouri