- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossoms
- Which location is suitable?
- Water giant bamboo
- Fertilize giant bamboo properly
- hardy
- Propagate giant bamboo
- cultivation
- sorts
Giant bamboo has recently become very popular in the plant trade. Even if the plants on offer are not usually the real giant bamboo. Nevertheless, the species commonly referred to as such offer a nice range of garden design options.
The Phyllostachys is often referred to as the giant bamboo
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossoms
- Which location is suitable?
- Water giant bamboo
- Fertilize giant bamboo properly
- hardy
- Propagate giant bamboo
- cultivation
- sorts
- Like most bamboo species, giant bamboo comes from East Asia
- Is there a very culture-defining and diversely used plant
- Easily cultivated in the local climate
- Especially suitable as a privacy screen
- Giant bamboo grows up to 10 m high here
- Culms reach their final height within one annual season
- Typical segmentation by nodes
- Strong underground rhizome expansion - set up a rhizome barrier!
- In terms of soil technology, giant bamboo hardly makes any demands: It gets along equally well on loamy, sandy or peat soil
- Also pH value pretty much irrelevant
- Rather sunny and warm
- Consider expected growth height
- Don't forget the rhizome barrier
- Because of its evergreen foliage, giant bamboo needs a relatively large amount of water
- Water all year round
- In summer generously and if possible in the morning and evening, in winter less
- Sowing is uncomplicated and can be carried out indoors all year round
- Place in pots with potting soil or coconut fiber in a bright, 25°C warm place
- Light germs - so do not cover with soil
- Germination after 1-3 weeks under foil or in the mini greenhouse
- Keep in the house for at least another year
- Transition phase in a cold house, then plant outdoors
origin
To say it in advance: In this article we will not deal with the real giant bamboo, the Dendrocalamus giganteus. This actually largest type of bamboo grass is actually irrelevant for the average hobby gardener. In its tropical, Far Eastern home areas, the Dendrocalamus giganteus grows to a height of around 40 meters and forms enormous culms of up to 35 centimeters - so it does not fit into a normal German private garden for reasons of climate and space. In Germany it can only be admired in the tropical houses of botanical gardens.
So although in the following we are not talking about real giant bamboo, we will use the name giant bamboo.
What is offered in garden centers under the overgeneralized term giant bamboo usually belongs to the genus Phyllostachys. These species are also known as flat tube bamboo because their culms are flattened on one side. They have the greatest importance in the garden culture of all of Central Europe. Because the Phyllostachys species also reach considerable, but still manageable heights, which ensure effective privacy in private gardens and at the same time a characterful Asian flair. The sweet grasses, with their clear, graphic appearance, fit particularly well in the front gardens of modern, geometrically linear architecture.
Like most types of bamboo, the giant bamboo comes from the Far East. Its range extends from Myanmar through China down to Thailand and Indonesia. Bamboo in general has a very high cultural significance there, as it has been used by people for thousands of years as a building material, as a raw material for fabrics or small tools, and also as food. The larger species in particular form such strong stalks that they provide the necessary stability for the construction of roof structures, floors or scaffolding.
Due to the rather moderate climatic conditions of its distribution areas, the giant bamboo can be cultivated outdoors in our latitude without any problems. Due to its high, dense growth, it is particularly suitable as a privacy screen for neighbors. Of course, it also conjures up a characterful Asian flair in the garden. through his
Origin at a glance:
growth
The giant bamboo Phyllostachys is one of the largest species in its genus. With us it can reach a height of up to 10 meters, which is enormous for an average garden. Nevertheless, the real giant bamboo Dendrocalamus giganteus is 4 times as high!
The interesting thing about the sweet grass is that the culms reach their final height within one annual season and then do not change for years. Of course, this is only possible by shooting up incredibly quickly. So you can literally watch them grow!
The stalks form nodes at equal intervals, which ensure the typically segmented bamboo structure and the stability required for the great height. The hollow nature and a wall thickness of about one centimeter also contribute to this. In diameter, the culms reach about 7 cm.
The giant bamboo grows in clumps and spreads underground through rampant rhizomes - an effective and very stable rhizome barrier is therefore essential if you want to prevent uncontrolled, unstoppable forest formation from taking place in the neighbor's garden.
The surface of the stalks is covered with a smooth layer that protects the grass from weather and other environmental influences.
Growth characteristics in keywords:
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leaves
Long, sessile leaves grow on the branched stems
blossoms
The flowering of the giant bamboo is - similar to that of agaves, for example - usually a one-off spectacle. Because it is usually formed only once in the life of a plant individual and often costs it its life. However, in contrast to the Dendrocalamus giganteus, this is not a must. A Phyllostachys bamboo can certainly survive one or more flowers and forms them at shorter intervals, not only after 30 or 40 years.
Which location is suitable?
The giant bamboo makes no special demands on its location. Above all, it can cope with almost the entire range of possible soil conditions. For example, it accepts clay soil as well as loose, lean sandy soil or peaty humus soil. It also needs neither a particularly acidic nor a particularly calcareous soil environment - it can cope with both. As far as light conditions are concerned, it prefers a sunny, warm place, but is also happy in partial shade.
What must of course be kept in mind when choosing the location is the expected size and the willingness of the plant to spread. If necessary, talk to your neighbors about the expected shadows and pay careful attention to the incorporation of a stable rhizome barrier. It is best if you hire a professional to do this.
Site requirements at a glance:
Water giant bamboo
Because of its evergreen foliage, the giant bamboo is quite thirsty. Therefore, water it regularly and extensively, but always avoid waterlogging. You also have to water in winter, but then of course less because of the lower evaporation. In summer, on the other hand, water only in the morning and evening hours because of the greater evaporation.
Thorough drainage when planting is also important.
Casting practice in brief:
Fertilize giant bamboo properly
The giant bamboo does not necessarily need to be supplied with additional nutrients. Adding a good amount of mature compost or horn shavings (£30.00) to the soil at planting is usually sufficient. You can give him some fresh compost from time to time in the years that follow. Alternatively, you can also use special bamboo fertilizer or lawn fertilizer that provides a lot of nitrogen and potassium.
hardy
The giant bamboo is relatively tolerant of freezing temperatures. It tolerates temperatures down to -15°C and can therefore be planted in most parts of the country without any problems. In the first few years after planting, however, it does not hurt to protect it a little from the cold. It is best to cover the planting site with a layer of leaves, mulch or straw, which must be removed again in spring. The culms can be entwined with bast mats, especially in the case of even younger giant bamboo.
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Propagate giant bamboo
Due to the clumpy rhizome propagation, bamboo can be easily propagated by division. To do this, cut off part of the grass with a spade in the spring. Another, albeit time-consuming variant is seed cultivation.
cultivation
If you want a giant bamboo in your garden but want to save yourself the hassle of buying containerware from the garden center, you can also just grow it yourself. That costs less money, but of course more time to the stately giant bamboo hedge. Seeds are commercially available. You can carry out the cultivation in the house all year round and do not need to do any special work. All you need is a few pots of potting soil and a bright, consistently warm spot of around 25°C.
The seeds of the giant bamboo are light germs. So just sit down on the moistened soil and press it down lightly. As an alternative to growing soil, coconut fiber is also suitable as a germination basis. Before planting, you can increase the germination of the grain-like seeds by soaking them in water for 24 hours.
To ensure an evenly moist, warm microclimate, cover the growing container with foil. Of course, if you have a mini greenhouse (€7.95) available, it's even better. Above all, you can then more comfortably provide the necessary ventilation. After about one to three weeks, the first seedlings should appear.
Before you plant the giant bamboo outdoors, you should keep it indoors for a while and carefully get used to the harsher conditions outside. He should get “puppy protection” for at least a whole year. If you have sown it early in the year, leave it in a closed environment the winter after next. A transition phase in the cold house is recommended. After that, the plant is well prepared for life in the garden.
To remember:
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sorts
Phyllostachys vivax 'Aureocaulis'
This flat tube bamboo species enchants with an attractive, green striped structure and reaches an impressive height of up to 8 meters.
Phyllostachys bissetii
The bissetii is the most frost-tolerant variety of the flat-tube bamboo and is therefore suitable for particularly cold parts of the country. Its culms are deep green and form a dense grove suitable for hedges.
Phyllostachys nigra
As the name suggests, the special feature of this variety lies in its black, violet coloration, which occurs when it is exposed to the sun. When young, the culms are still light green. Especially in contrast, the violet-black looks very decorative.