Gigantochloa Maxima Bamboo

[Pedro 65]

Gigantochloa have many Beautiful Neat Bamboos with Stripes.

The pics below are of Gigantochloa Maxima ( syn G pseudoarundinacea and G verticilliata) from SE Asia

This is much cold hardier than G Robusta which is a beautiful bamboo but shoots in mid winter and they struggle to get any size especially when planted out in "the open"

G Robustas stripes are" more vivid" and have huge appealing leaves but G maxima is also a beautiful neat bamboo.

[Gonzer]

Nice Pete, sure would be great to have the room for those 'little' beasties.

[MattyB]

That is just awesome! It has a similar look to my favorite bamboo which is Dendrocalamus latiflorus 'mei nung'.

[Pedro 65]

Matty, your Latiflorus mei nung looks fantastic, thanks for posting, I will get a shot soon of our G robusta to show its colour and striping.

Greg, its amazing how small you can keep "big bamboos' especially if you only keep 3 culms. I actually have a "beautiful book" called Japanese Courtyard Gardens ( ISBN 0-87040-993-X)...Stunning pics of tiny courtyard gardens , some have giant bamboo, bit they only keep a few culms..looks incredible.. Its a beautiful small book, but will add that none of the gardens have broms in them the coutyard gardens would look insanely incredible if they added broms..

[MattyB]

Sorry, Pedro, that's not mine, just a photo from the internet. I wanted to compare the striping. Mine is not that fat yet, maybe only 1-1/2" dia. culms so far.

[Gonzer]

but will add that none of the gardens have broms in them

That's OK Pete, I'm actually a closet bamboo lover. Thanks for the info on the book. Japanese gardens, especilly small ones, are an art unto themselves.

[ThunderSRQ]

I have Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacia var. minor (based on some space constraints -- trying to fit as many types as possible in the bamboo section of my garden, but still allow each one to be viewed individually, if possible) -- however, mine is still realtively small and not showing good colors yet. And I also really like the idea of broms (and crotons) as great color additions in a bamboo garden -- thanks for the tip re: that book Pete -- I will definitely look for it. And it is very interesting how you described the use of large bamboo in small/restricted spaces by severely cutting back/managing the number of culms in each clump -- so many folks are "afraid" to try bamboo based on its invasive reputation, but I have found the clumping types very easy to both grow and control (in fact, I've often thought an extremely cool-looking and very maintenance-friendly garden would be one with nothing but bamboo!).

I currently have a total of 28 different clumpers (all types that are colorful or have other "character" features -- like swollen culms or weeping growth) -- so far, I only have one running type in the ground as an "experiment" (Phyllostachys nigra 'Bory' - Tiger Bamboo -- it looked so incredible in the pictures, I just had to give it a try!) -- although I do have it in an open area where I can very actively manage any unwanted runners -- and won't know for a while yet if my experiment is a success, or if I decide it is too invasive to keep.

Tim

Edited August 10, 2012 by ThunderSRQ

[John Case]

Tim,

Keep a good eye on the Bory....all P. niger variants are very aggressive runners and can get away from you very easily....they can run as much as 30 feet before culming....I wish you the best luck.

[Laisla87]

Amazingly beautiful!

[Pedro 65]

I have Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacia var. minor (based on some space constraints -- trying to fit as many types as possible in the bamboo section of my garden, but still allow each one to be viewed individually, if possible) -- however, mine is still realtively small and not showing good colors yet. And I also really like the idea of broms (and crotons) as great color additions in a bamboo garden -- thanks for the tip re: that book Pete -- I will definitely look for it. And it is very interesting how you described the use of large bamboo in small/restricted spaces by severely cutting back/managing the number of culms in each clump -- so many folks are "afraid" to try bamboo based on its invasive reputation, but I have found the clumping types very easy to both grow and control (in fact, I've often thought an extremely cool-looking and very maintenance-friendly garden would be one with nothing but bamboo!).

I currently have a total of 28 different clumpers (all types that are colorful or have other "character" features -- like swollen culms or weeping growth) -- so far, I only have one running type in the ground as an "experiment" (Phyllostachys nigra 'Bory' - Tiger Bamboo -- it looked so incredible in the pictures, I just had to give it a try!) -- although I do have it in an open area where I can very actively manage any unwanted runners -- and won't know for a while yet if my experiment is a success, or if I decide it is too invasive to keep.

Tim

Tim, our property has "Lots of Bamboo", they are all clumpers. I would NEVER plant a running bamboo..Ive seen properties here with your above mentioned Phyllostachys Nigra Black( not Bory) that planted one single plant 30 years ago..That 1 single PN black now covers a few acres..

We have near 100 of the Larger clumpers, they are terrific wind breaks, look after and enrich slipped steep land, look fantastic and we get "tonnes of free mulch" for our gardens each year, Bamboo leaves are high in silica, so when you use the fallen leaves as mulch, this is a real treat for gardens..I do like to get mulch from different bamboo areas each year so the mulch on the ground is very thick but also the bamboo loves to eat up all the fallen leaves so I dont want to starve them of their natural cycle.

Matty , thats fine, ive seen large Mei nungs in our area, G robusta is a Stunner, I must go and take a pic as I said i would.

Greg, when I cut all my Brom pups, I place them on a bed of bamboo leaves and sand mixed together, they mass root very very quickly.Glad to tell you about the "Japanes Courtyard Gardens" Book.

[Walter John]

I have Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacia var. minor (based on some space constraints -- trying to fit as many types as possible in the bamboo section of my garden, but still allow each one to be viewed individually, if possible) -- however, mine is still realtively small and not showing good colors yet. And I also really like the idea of broms (and crotons) as great color additions in a bamboo garden -- thanks for the tip re: that book Pete -- I will definitely look for it. And it is very interesting how you described the use of large bamboo in small/restricted spaces by severely cutting back/managing the number of culms in each clump -- so many folks are "afraid" to try bamboo based on its invasive reputation, but I have found the clumping types very easy to both grow and control (in fact, I've often thought an extremely cool-looking and very maintenance-friendly garden would be one with nothing but bamboo!).

I currently have a total of 28 different clumpers (all types that are colorful or have other "character" features -- like swollen culms or weeping growth) -- so far, I only have one running type in the ground as an "experiment" (Phyllostachys nigra 'Bory' - Tiger Bamboo -- it looked so incredible in the pictures, I just had to give it a try!) -- although I do have it in an open area where I can very actively manage any unwanted runners -- and won't know for a while yet if my experiment is a success, or if I decide it is too invasive to keep.

Tim

Please tell us what the clumpers are Tim, would love to know what's growing over there, and it's not too late to pull that runner, just saying..

[ThunderSRQ]

OK...OK...I'll go ahead and pull the runner... (I had "visions" of a controllable clump of very cool-looking green & black mottled culms -- but I don't want to risk messing up the bamboo garden I'm creating with a "monster"!)

And although, as I said, my G. pseudoarundinacia var. minor isn't (wasn't0) showing it's colors yet, it is just now pushing what looks like will be its first colorful culm:

And here are a few additional 'bonus' emerging culm shots (seeing these is one of the biggest perks of growing bamboo!):

Dendrocalamus brandisii (which will eventually be a true clumping monster!)

Bambusa tulda striata

Dendrocalamus giaganteus (like brandisii is still very young -- hope to see approx. 12" culms someday...)

And what is one of my overall favorites (if I could only grow one type of bamboo -- it could be this one...) -- Dendrocalamus minor 'Amoenus'

Pete -- your bamboo garden sounds absolutely magnificent and please do share a picture of your G. robusta -- I don't have that one yet!

Tim

[Luisd]

I saw this in a garden, that species is?

[Walter John]

I saw this in a garden, that species is?

Looks to be Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata'.

I like the smaller version of this painted bamboo called Bambusa Eutuldoides Virdi-vittata.