Wayside gardeners have been asking for Black Bamboo for years now, and we've been scrambling to grow enough of this rare plant to make it available. At last the wait is over, and the sultry tones and multi-purpose evergreen (or should that be "everblack"?) habit can be yours!
New spring canes emerge bright green and steadily darken, first to a smoky gray, then to a pure ebony that just gleams. Meanwhile, the handsome 4- to 5-inch leaves remain dark green, for a wonderful two-tone effect. Because this Bamboo is evergreen, the show gets even better next spring when you've got your older black canes offsetting the new green ones!
This Black Bamboo is less invasive than others, but bear in mind that over time it WILL form a thick grove if not trimmed back. However, its slow rate of growth gives you plenty of time to do that trimming (and to use the ebony canes for all kinds of lovely accents and projects around the garden!). Black Bamboo reaches 18 feet tall and 7 feet wide after about 5 to 7 years. At maturity, it may stretch to 24 feet tall and 10 feet wide, with the oldest canes measuring 3 1/2 inches in diameter!
Really attractive in any setting, it is spectacular facing down yellow-leaved plants. Happiest in full sun in the northern part of its region, filtered shade farther south, Black Bamboo appreciates protection from strong winds. It is hardy to negative 4 degrees F, but being native to China and Taiwan, it finds the warm, humid summers of the south and midwest just like home! Space plants 5 to 7 feet apart for quicker coverage if using as a solid "wall" or garden line. Zones 6-9.
