This is a real eye catcher in a garden. The culms get very wide but not very tall, so they taper dramatically, and they bulge outward between the nodes. Since the internodal distance is small, the branches are much closer together, creating a very dense screen at eye level.
Origin
Southeast Asia. This species has been so widely grown for so long, that its origin is difficult to determine.
Description
The regular form of common tropical timber bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) is essentially identical to Bambusa oldhamii with the exception that its culms are much stronger, it doesn’t grow quite as fast, and it is slightly less cold tolerant. The dwarf mutant of it, Bambusa vulgaris wamin, is dwarfed in height (12′-20′), but not in diameter, and has highly pronounced bulging between the nodes of the culms.
Diameter
4.5″
Height
12′-20′
Temperature/Zone
32° F, zone 9b or higher.
Light
These love full sun. If you live in a zone lower than zone 9b, then plant it in the protection of a larger tree. You’ll sacrifice growth for safety through the winter. Otherwise, full sun is good.
Water
At maturity, a large stand of this plant is very drought resistant. However, with less water, the plant’s growth will be stunted. More water really does mean more growth. Standing water for any length of time will rot the rhizome of the plant, and cause it to die.
Fertilizer
All-purpose fertilizer applied monthly during the spring and summer.
Pests
There is a scale insect in Florida, that specifically attacks bamboos. I use systemic imidacloprid.