Phyllostachys Nigra " The Black Bamboo" available for purchase on line from the Pot and Grass Co. Colchester Essex UK

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Phyllostachys Nigra.

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Description - Phyllostachys Nigra . The Black Bamboo

• Phyllostachys Nigra, the famous black bamboo is unique. It is the only bamboo to produce truly black culms which contrast beautifully with the short bottle green leaves. This a slowish grower and although the height in its native China can reach as much as 14 meters, it rarely makes the 5 meter mark in temperate climate like the UK. However this really is a stunner of a bamboo and justly deserves all the praise it gets. The culms emerge pink/cinnamon then turning green and then ripen off over the next twelve months to a gorgeous shiny Japanned  black. Looks wonderful in an oriental style garden or breathtaking as a specimen on its own.

Phyllostachys is a genus of bamboo from the North Lowlands of China. Some are extremely tough cookies   and very exposure tolerant. This genus offers some of the best ornamental bamboos that are truly hardy in the United Kingdom.

In their native warmer regions of China their root system which is intermediate can wander, however in the cooler more temperate zones of the UK, apart from one or two exceptions they are remarkably well behaved and reliably clump forming with slow lateral spread.

Except where indicated on the left,   most are quite easy to grow with only an annual hair cut and brush out   to worry about. A good organic mulching and an annual feed are always appreciated. Remember to let fallen leaves compost down around the plant to replace valuable silica.

Most Phyllostachys prefer full sun but some will tolerate light or dappled shade, apart from that they are not particular about the soil they are in but preferring heavier richer soils that can be kept evenly moist but not waterlogged.

Once the plants are established they are fairly drought tolerant however they need to be kept watered until they have a proper foothold.

On the whole they are mostly pest free. Maybe an occasional attack of Aphids Mealy bugs   Vine weevil or the dreaded mite. If you don't mind chemicals spray with a propriety insecticide or alternatively use one of the organic sprays now available. If mites are the problem cut down the canes and burn them along with any fallen leaves and spray the surrounding area with miticide.

Maximum   Height and Width in 10 Years.

Bio Data