Perennials, Woody > Phyllostachys > Phyllostachys vivax > Phyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulis
Phyllostachys vivax
f. aureocaulis
Golden Chinese Timber Bamboo
Origin: Native to the eastern China lowlands.
| Family |
| Poaceae |
| Genus |
| Phyllostachys |
| Species |
| vivax |
| Category |
| Perennials, Woody |
| Forma |
| aureocaulis |
| Synonyms |
| Phyllostachys aureocaulis, Phyllostachys vivax 'Aureocaulis' |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 7b - 8a |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 7 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H5 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -15 - (-9) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 5 - 15 |
| Height |
| 8 - 15 m |
| Spread |
| 2.5 - 4 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Awards
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Phyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulis is a tall, vigorous, clumping evergreen bamboo with yellow canes and dense foliage. Canes grow to their full height in the first year then branch out. |
| Landscape |
| Makes a good screen or hedge and can be useful for adding height. |
| Cultivation |
| Grow in a sheltered location, in full sun to part shade, moist, well-drained, humusy soil containing loam. Plants grown in containers should be fed monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season. Can become invasive under more favourable conditions, spreading by surface rooting rhizomes. Thinning out stems shows off canes to best effect. |
| Shape |
| Columnar. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| Canes have grooves on alternate sides between the nodes, leaf-bearing branches are in pairs at each node. |
| Pests |
| No serious pests or diseases of note. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Canes (or culms) are a bright golden yellow, young stems have green stripes. |
| Leaf Description |
| Typically narrow-lanceolate, up to 20 cm long, drooping. |
| Flower Description |
| Bamboo plants have a long non-flowering period. Flowering severely weakens the plant but does not kill it–if given the proper time and care they can rebound. |
| Notable Specimens |
| RHS Garden Rosemoor, North Devon, England. |
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