Phyllostachys rubromarginata
a woody evergreen member of the Phyllostachys genus in the family Gramineae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Gramineae
- Genus
- Phyllostachys
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young shoots - cooked[3]. They have a small degree of acridity when raw but this is removed if they are boiled in water, they are then eaten in salads etc[2]. The shoots are harvested in the spring when they are about 8cm above the ground, cutting them about 5cm below soil level.
- Plant part
- Stem
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The canes are used for plant supports, making musical pipes and weaving baskets[3].
- Product or use
- Basketry
- Product or use
- Wood
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China in Zhejiang and Guangxi.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[5]. Division is best carried out in wet weather and small divisions will establish better than large clumps[5]. 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[4]. Basal cane cuttings in spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a rich damp soil in a sheltered position and plenty of moisture in the growing season. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[4]. It dislikes prolonged exposure to hard frosts. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[4]. 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[1]. Cultivated for its edible shoots in China[3]. Plants show a remarkably high survival rate when planted out[3]. Commercial plantings in America averaged around 86% success rate[3]. (This probably refers to divisions) In tests in Alabama, USA, this species was considerably more productive than any other member of this genus in producing canes as measured by number and by weight of the wood[3]. 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].
References
? The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980. Royal Horticultural Society 1979-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Farrelly. D. The Book of Bamboo Sierra Club. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-87156-825-X
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31