A Specimen bamboo, Pseudosasa ambilis,the Teastick Bamboo or Tonkin Cane available from The Pot and Grass Company, Colchester Essex UK

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Pseudosasa ambilis

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Description - Pseudosasa ambilis. " The Teastick Bamboo"

• The Teastick Bamboo or " Tonkin Cane."  An   upright leafy bamboo, large and handsome. Slower growing than japonica. Hardy in UK but prefers a warm sheltered spot.  It is best suited to medium or large gardens where it can run as a screen or hedge. The culms are upright aging to a golden yellow. They are grown extensively in warmer parts of China for cane production and this is the cane prized for split cane fishing rods.  

Pseudosasa is a robust genus of bamboo originating from Japan and China. They are not as cold hardy as Phyllostachys but do perform well in the temperate zones when kept in a warm garden area particularly in a south facing sheltered aspect  .

In their native warmer regions of Japan and China their root system which is Leptomorphic   can wander however in the cooler more temperate zones of the UK   they are usualy well behaved and reliably clump forming generating large quantities of grove forming culms making them suitable for hedges and screens. They are grown widely in China for garden cane production.

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 is always appreciated. Remember to let fallen leaves compost down around the plant to replace valuable silica.

Most Pseudosasa  prefer full sun   and a warmer aspect 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 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

For more information there are many excellent reference books available in particular " Bamboos and Grasses" John Ardel. Collins Press. " Taming the Dragon" , Paul Whittaker, Timber Press.
Also take a look at The European Bamboo Society. The American Bamboo Society. The Australian Bamboo Society, Bamboo in Scandinavian