Practical
Plants

Pleioblastus simonii

Medake

a woody evergreen member of the Pleioblastus genus in the family Gramineae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Gramineae
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
6 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - cooked[8][10][2]. They have a very bitter flavour, this bitterness is considerably reduced by changing the water at least once during the cooking process - though this will also remove quite a few of the nutrients[K]. The new shoots are about 20mm in diameter[K].

Plant part
Stem

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Canes are thin walled but extremely strong, they can be used as plant supports, also for fencing etc[8][10][11][6]. Often used in China for making fan handles, poles and in various handicrafts[6]. Tolerant of maritime exposure and very hardy and vigorous, this plant makes a good screen or hedge[8][5][6].

Product or use
Plant support
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan. Locally naturalized in Britain[9].
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - if possible, surface sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 20°c. Stored seed should be sown as soon as it is received. 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. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse or cold frame until they are large enough to plant out, which could be a number of years. The plants only flower at intervals of several years and so seed is rarely available. Division in spring as new growth commences. Very easy, single canes can be used. Pot them up in light shade in a greenhouse. Make sure the foliage is not allowed to dry out - misting 2 - 3 times a day for the first couple of weeks following divsion can be very helpful. Plant out in the summer once they are growing away strongly.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very easily grown bamboo, it succeeds in most soils but prefers a good loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[1]. Dislikes drought[1]. Tolerates maritime exposure[5]. A very hardy plant, it can tolerate temperatures down to between -20 and -25°c. The rootstock is running and very invasive[3][8][5]. Another report says that it is a vigorous grower but not invasive[6]. New shoots are produced from May[8]. The canes are harvested commercially for their many uses in Japan[6]. It is the third most commonly cultivated species in Japan[6]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[7]. Unlike many bamboos, this plant quite often flowers and sets viable seed, the plants do not usually die as a result of this[4]. However, if they are fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time they are far less likely to survive[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  4. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980. Royal Horticultural Society 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Farrelly. D. The Book of Bamboo Sierra Club. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-87156-825-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  8. Lawson. Bamboos. Faber 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  9. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  11. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

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