Bamboos in Sydney

For all you bamboo aficionados, here’s an expanded page with photos of the bamboo varieties I saw in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The descriptions below are from the American Bamboo Society’s Species Source List.

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BAMBUSA MULTIPLEX
(Hedge bamboo)
Height: 25 ft
Culm diameter: 1.5”
“Each node bears a large number of branches down to the culm base, making a dense hedge. Hardiest of the Bambusa, grown down to 12F by some in otherwise very favourable sites.”

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BAMBUSA MEMBRANACEA
Height: 70 ft
Culm diameter: 4”
“A strong growing bamboo with very straight culms forming loose clumps. Also known as Dendrocalamus membranaceus.”
 

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BAMBUSA OLDHAMII
(Giant timber bamboo)
Height: 55 ft
Culm diameter: 4”
“The most common giant tropical bamboo grown in the U.S. Culms straight and erect with relatively short branches. Leaves are rather wide.”
 

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BAMBUS TEXTILIS ‘GRACILIS’
(Weaver’s bamboo)
Height: 30 ft
Culm diameter: 1.3”
“Tight clumps. An extremely handsome plant that arches gracefully. The thin-walled culms are used for weaving. Culm more slender than the typical B. textilis, nodding top, graceful foliage.”

 

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BAMBUSA VENTRICOSA
(Buddha’s belly bamboo)
Height: 55 ft
Culm diameter: 2.3”
“It becomes a dwarf with swollen internodes when grown in pots under dry conditions. In the ground it reverts to a giant with zigzag culms and branches.” (NOTE: The specimen below showed no dwarfism whatsoever!)

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BAMBUSA VULGARIS ‘VITTATA’
(Painted bamboo)
Height: 50 ft
Culm diameter: 4”
“Common throughout the tropical world. Open clump, culms spaced a foot or two apart. Culm cuttings root very easily. Used for banana props. Similar to the species, golden yellow culms with green vertical stripes that look like drip marks. A very popular ornamental. Potted culm cuttings do not always survive.”

 

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DENDROCALAMUS LATIFLORUS ‘MEI-NUNG’
Height: 65 ft
Culm diameter: 8”
“From southern China. The large, dark green leaves are 10 to 16 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide. Light green culms striped with dark green.”

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GIGANTOCHLOA ALBOCILIATA
Height: 30 ft
Culm diameter: 2”
“Tight clump. It has long (up to an inch) culm leaf ligules, narrow leaves. Light gray-green culms, white stripes.”

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GIGANTOCHLOA ATROVIOLACEA
(Tropical black bamboo)
Height: 50 ft
Culm diameter: 3.5”
“From Java and Sumatra. Brown to black culms striped faint green. Dark green leaves. Sheath blades reflexed.”

 

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PHYLLOSTACHYS NIGRA
(Black bamboo)
Height: 30 ft
Culm diameter: 2”
“Culms turn jet black after the first 6 months to one year. Popular because of its graceful habit and the sharp accent of its culm color. Said to grow larger in northern climates.”

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PLEIOBLASTUS VARIEGATUS
Labeled as such. Not clear which pleioblastus species it actually is. Any guesses?
UPDATE: Brad Salmon of Needmore Bamboo Co. told me that this variety is now called Pleioblastus fortunei. Thank you, Brad!

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THYRSOSTACHYS SIAMENSIS
(Monastery bamboo)
Height: 40 ft
Culm diameter: 3”
“One of the most graceful bamboos known. Culm walls very thick, almost solid. Sheath persistent. In monasteries in Thailand.”