Yesterday’s Planting: Phyllostachys Nigra – Black Bamboo
by Rubisco!
I always get excited about firsts…big or little, I seem to note and remember them. Every variety of tree or plant I have ever specified, I seem to remember the first time and place where it went. After that,well, I forget it. Yesterday I had the opportunity to help a client choose some bamboo. We settled on Phyllostachys nigra — a first for me. I have wanted to find an appropriae home for this plant for some time. When I left London 5 years ago, it was all the rage — literally everywhere. Of course that trend hasn’t quite made the leap across the pond in full force….yet. I can’t plant it at my own home, it is simply too cold, but for a client who is down in Boston, where temperatures are considerably milder, it will be happy.
Jim/ArtofGardening.org said,
October 21, 2009 @ 10:09 am
I planted Phyllostachys nigra about five years ago in my garden. HAd no idea I was ahead of a curve as far as a “rage” goes. A few stalks are “maturing” and starting to turn black(ish). They’re sort of a dirty gray right now. They don’t grow as vigorous as I think they’d like. The Buffalo winters are a bit of a setback each year for them.
Kate said,
October 22, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
I love that bamboo! I had no idea it would survive this far north. Now, all I have to do is find a nursery that carries it.
rochelle said,
October 23, 2009 @ 6:02 am
kate – we got ours from burt at http://www.bamboos.com – he does mail order – he is a couple miles from me – solidly in zone 5 – he says it won’t work here, but boston is zone 6 and he says it will be fine there.