Zone 5 Hardy Bamboo

Citrus, Ferns, Hostas, Discuss other plants that don't fit in any other category.

Moderators: lucky1, Alchris, Kansas, Wes North Van, Laaz

Post Reply
User avatar
Paul Ont
Large Palm
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:58 am
Location: zone 6a Downtown Toronto and zone 5a Kingston

Zone 5 Hardy Bamboo

Post by Paul Ont » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:03 pm

Just wondering if anyone has checked out this website before?
http://www.needmorebamboo.com/
Lots of good info, and very inspiring for someone 1/2 to 1 zone colder. I know I can expect more damage, but a few species look to be worth trying (P. angusta, bissetii, rubromarginata, Arundinaria gigantea, and maybe a few others)... I know about the hardy clumpers (Fargesia) but they don't really appeal to me...
I'm currently trying P. nuda (still green after -22.4C) and P. aureolsulcata (completely defoliated at about -17C!)... I'll be interested to try other species and to see how those I've already planted recover!
Anyone else have some info on hardy bamboo, which species have done well?
Cheers,
Paul



User avatar
Alchris
Moderator
Posts: 877
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:24 pm
Location: Edmonton, Zone 3a;3a;3a

Post by Alchris » Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:38 pm

My only experience, positive, has been with Fargesia murieli (sp).

Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps

User avatar
Dean W.
Small Palm
Posts: 662
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:42 am
Location: Texas

Post by Dean W. » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:11 am

Paul,

Yes, Iv'e seen this website before. Your in a much cooler zone than me. I have thirteen varities of bamboo. No, fargesis though. I suggest you check out this http://www.americanbamboo.org/ . You can research different varities that can work well for your area.

Dean

User avatar
Finnish summer
Seed
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed May 20, 2015 8:48 am
Location: Finnland, zone 5(a)

Post by Finnish summer » Thu May 21, 2015 4:51 am

Hi,
You should give a chance to Phyllostachys bissetii, it is cold hardy down to ~ -25°C!
(some of them down to -30°C, if -30°C freezing cold do not last too long)

User avatar
Paul Ont
Large Palm
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:58 am
Location: zone 6a Downtown Toronto and zone 5a Kingston

Post by Paul Ont » Thu May 21, 2015 4:54 am

First time I tred P. bissetti it died completely after -24C... Stupid thing was supposed to be among the hardiest of the Phyllostachys.

How old is this thread anyway? I should do an update on growing bamboo in zone 4/5!

DarkNight
Sprout
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 11:39 am
Location: Riga, Latvia, Zone 5a(often)-6a (officially), latitude 56°

Post by DarkNight » Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:45 am

Paul Ont wrote:First time I tred P. bissetti it died completely after -24C... Stupid thing was supposed to be among the hardiest of the Phyllostachys.

How old is this thread anyway? I should do an update on growing bamboo in zone 4/5!
Please do update on growing bamboo in Zone 5

wxman
Small Palm
Posts: 574
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:48 pm
Location: Saukville, WI

Post by wxman » Thu Jun 04, 2015 6:27 pm

I planted P. nuda last summer. Gave it no mulch this winter or any other protection. It came back just fine here in zone 5b :). Winter low was -16F.
<object width="290" height="130"><param name="movie" value="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_min ... sh&lang=EN" /><embed src="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_min ... sh&lang=EN" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290" height="130" /></object>

DarkNight
Sprout
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 11:39 am
Location: Riga, Latvia, Zone 5a(often)-6a (officially), latitude 56°

Post by DarkNight » Fri Jun 05, 2015 1:29 am

wxman wrote:I planted P. nuda last summer. Gave it no mulch this winter or any other protection. It came back just fine here in zone 5b :). Winter low was -16F.
Hi, thx, I looked up on e-bay, can't find any international deliveries :(
Would love to try it.

User avatar
Paul Ont
Large Palm
Posts: 1384
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 10:58 am
Location: zone 6a Downtown Toronto and zone 5a Kingston

Post by Paul Ont » Mon Jun 08, 2015 7:49 am

nuda was a total bust here in zone 4b/5a. I heard the same thing from a fellow in Niagara, not that it failed, just that it was like having 'running sticks' as opposed to bamboo. I can't list all of the plants that have failed here, but a list would include: P. vivax, rubromarginata, F. murieale (could try again), P. bissetti, P. aureosulcata 'aureocaulis', and about 15 other Phyllostachys that I can't remember right now! Outside of zone 6, and even in zone 6, plants need some serious size to have a chance of making it long term (i.e. larger than 7 gallon sized). I imagine that I'd still have lots of different species if I had listened to that advice when I first started with bamboo!

The ones that are succeeding are:
P. aureosulcata, probably averages 15' or so. Usually mostly top-kills here, shoots in May.
P. aureosulcata 'spectibilis': Seems to downsizing here, probably no taller than 10'. Not as vigorous as the species.
P. aureosulcata 'alata': Running like a champ. Has spread very quickly, but is still really short at (perhaps) 6'. I keep hoping for an upsize.

F. nitida: Seed grown plants are better than the TC (presumably) plant that I bought at a store. Takes some damage but seems hardy.
Fargesia spp.: Seems to be OK as long as the snow if on top of it! I think it's probably 'rufa', about 1' tall after 4 years.

Sasa spp. Ground cover, comes through with some leaves intact. Worth growing.
Indocalamus spp. Seems t be a ground cover here. It survives, but I am hoping for more in the future.

There are other species I'd like to try here, including Ph. virella, Ph. parviflora, and Arudinaria gigantea, but sources and cost are limiting at the moment!

User avatar
hardyjim
Palm Grove
Posts: 4703
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:00 pm
Location: Fairfield Iowa 5b

Post by hardyjim » Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:37 pm

I have Phyllostachys bissetii and Phyllostachys nigra,the PB
has been around for 7-8 years but has been knocked back...
the PN has been in for maybe 5-6 years and I am very surprised
it came back this year because it wasn't mulched.
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

DarkNight
Sprout
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat May 16, 2015 11:39 am
Location: Riga, Latvia, Zone 5a(often)-6a (officially), latitude 56°

Post by DarkNight » Sun Jun 14, 2015 12:05 am

thx, guys, I'll try to order some seeds online, there is limited supply of bamboo varieties around here.

User avatar
marceli
Seedling
Posts: 409
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:57 am
Location: Poland, zone 6
Contact:

Post by marceli » Sat Oct 03, 2015 11:06 pm

F. rufa. +13inch from August :)

Image

F. jiuzhaigou 1. +19inch from August :)

Image

It's their second year in the ground.
http://palmiarnia.info - all about hardy tropical plants in Poland & forum!

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests