Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens
| Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 20' |
| Width: | 23' |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens
Propagation: Seed - surface sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 20°c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3 - 6 months. Grow on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Seed is rarely available.
Division in spring as new growth commences. Divisions from the open ground do not transplant well, so will need careful treatment and nurturing under cover in pots until at least late spring[1]. Division is best carried out in wet weather and small divisions will establish better than large clumps[1]. Another report says that you can take large divisions from established clumps and transfer them straight to their permanent positions, misting or drenching them frequently until they are established[2].
Basal cane cuttings in spring.
Cultivation: Requires a rich damp soil in a sheltered position[2] and plenty of moisture in the growing season[2].
Plants are very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c[3], but they dislike prolonged exposure to hard frosts[2].
Plants can reach 10 metres in height in the warmer parts of Britain.
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[2].
Plants only flower at intervals of many years. When they do come into flower most of the plants energies are directed into producing seed and consequently the plant is severely weakened. They sometimes die after flowering, but if left alone they will usually recover though they will look very poorly for a few years. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[4].
A very ornamental plant, it will in time form a clump 7 or more metres in diameter so it is best grown in an isolated position[5].
This is a good companion species to grow in a woodland because the plants are shallow rooted and do not compete with deep rooted trees[3].
The rootstock is running[6], it is not too invasive in the cooler British climate[2] but can wander a little. New shoots appear from early April[6].
Range: E. Asia - E. China in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Habitat: Woodland on mountains and plains[7].
Edibility: Young shoots - cooked[8][9][10]. Virtually free of acridity even when raw[3], they are eaten in salads or added to soups etc[11]. The shoots on mature clumps can be 40mm or more in diameter[K]. Another report says the shoots are acrid when raw. The shoots are harvested in the spring when they are about 8cm above the ground, cutting them about 5cm below soil level.
Usage: The canes are used as plant supports etc[8][3].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: P. elegans. McClure. Bambusa viridi-glaucescens.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Farrelly, David. The Book of Bamboo. Sierra Club, 1984.
- ↑ Royal Horticultural Society. The Plantsman Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980. Royal Horticultural Society, 1979.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lawson, Alexander. Bamboos. Faber, 1968.
- ↑ Grounds, Roger. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm, 1989.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.