In the foreground is Pleioblastus simonii variegatus, growing a few feet tall with narrow variegated leaves. This is a very "unstable" bamboo and has a tendency to revert back to the non-variegated species type (Pleioblastus simonii). The taller bamboo in the background is Pleioblastus simonii, which has reverted from the P. simonii variegatus. (Note the similarities between the two species, and the difference in the appearance of the leaves.) P. simonii can grow 20 feet tall under ideal conditions and has many uses.

As you face these bamboos, look down and to your left and you will see a low-growing bamboo, with variegated leaves. This is Pleioblastus fortunei variegatus (Dwarf Whitestripe). This bamboo tends to keep its green and white stripes throughout the year, has thin 0.2 inch diameter culms, tolerates low temperatures to -10°F and never seems to get over a few inches tall. All of these bamboos were planted in 1997.

Follow the path downhill (away from the tea house) and you will approach the bamboo display area. The first bed, contains a short ground-cover bamboo, Pleioblastus distichus, which is well-adapted to sun or shade. This is a compact bamboo and must be planted close together in order to cover an area. Deep shade will make the culms lengthen and distort its compact characteristics. Maximum specifications are 2 feet tall, 0.2 inch diameter and tolerant to -5°F. Originally 15 plants in 1997, this bamboo has filled in nicely. In mid June 2004, we started an experiment and pruned some of the Pleioblastus distichus to see how it would grow back. Previously, there were three species in this bed, but the competition between them was just too great. To remedy the situation, Texas Bamboo Society (TBS) members removed the large-leafed Indocalamus tessellatus and moved the delicate-looking Chimonobambusa marmorea to the next bed. Although it was an attractive contrast having these three species together, it was also a classic example of what happens when you plant too many different species of bamboo too close together.

Now turn around (do an "about face"), you will see that there is a large-leafed bamboo mixed in with the morning glories, English ivy (and possibly some poison ivy). This is Indocalamus tessellatus a bamboo with the largest leaves of any bamboo in cultivation. A small running bamboo, it was first planted here about 1993 by Herb Hillery and Kinder Chambers. The vines in this area have kept this plant in check. I. tessellatus grows readily in pots and looks best in shady areas and doesn't usually get more than four feet tall.

Now, before you proceed to admire the next clump, look up to the High Center Bed, which is just uphill a bit. Planted on April 24, 1998, the tall bamboo is Bambusa multiplex. This is a clumping bamboo that does well in areas where the minimum temperatures do not drop below 12°- 15°F. It grows 25 feet tall, 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and tolerates full sun. Note how much space a clumping bamboo can take up in the landscape.

The short bamboo growing around the B. multiplex was originally labeled as Shibataea kumasaca. It seems to appear more like Shibataea chinesis, which only grows to 2 feet tall as opposed to Shibataea kumasaca, which is stated on the American Bamboo Society Source List to grow 7 feet tall. Originally four plants in 1998, the S. chinesis has spread slowly and Spring 2001 was the first time that there were many new shoots. Shibataeas can be trained into handsome hedges. It has short broad leaves which resemble holly, and does best in a tad of shade in acid soil, and tolerates -10°F. Too much shade will make it lose its attractive leafy form.

Now proceed down the path to the stately Bambusa textilis, a tight-growing clumping bamboo which often reaches 40 feet tall, and 2 inches in diameter, but is only tolerant of a low temperature of 13°F. The common name for B. textilis is Weaver's Bamboo, as the fibers of the thin-walled culms are often used for weaving. We believe that this start came from Mercer Arboretum in Humble, Texas.

The next bed contains Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo). This was the first bamboo planted in the bamboo display area, on September 13, 1997, just a month before the Texas Bamboo Society hosted the annual meeting of the American Bamboo Society at Zilker Botanical Garden. Various resources indicate that Black Bamboo does best in partial shade in Central Texas. The culms tend to turn ebony black when exposed to full sun. Maximum height is listed as 30 feet, diameter 2 inches, with a minimum temperature tolerance of 0°F. The new shoots start out green and turn darker during their first year.

The next bed contains Phyllostachys aurea flavescens-inversa (planted April 24, 1998). The green culms are distinguished by a yellow stripe in the groove (sulcus). This species seems to be extra aggressive, grows 27 feet tall, 1.8 inches in diameter, tolerant to 0°F and takes full sun. On February 24, 2001, part of this bed was cleared and some of this bamboo was moved to another location.

Throughout the east side of the Taniguchi Oriental Garden (downhill from your path) is Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo), and Pseudosasa japonica (Arrow Bamboo), two running bamboos which were planted as part of the original garden by its creator, Isamu Taniguchi in 1969.

Now go back to the beginning of the "Bamboo Trail", and follow the path to your right (along the koi pond). To the right of the bench at the end of the koi pond is a tall clumping bamboo, Bambusa beecheyana. It was originally intended that this plant would overwinter in the greenhouse (it is only tolerant down to 15°F) but it has become too big to move. Fortunately, the last few winters have been mild, so it has been not damaged severely. This bamboo can grow 50 feet tall and 5 inches in diameter. Keep your eye on this one! There is a huge Date Palm in this area - making it difficult to get good pictures of the bamboos. The Date Palm was not there when the bamboos were planted and in my opinion is out of place here and overpowering.

The tall, stately specimen behind the bench is Semiarundinaria fastuosa, which grows 30 feet tall, 1 1/5 inches in diameter, handles minus 5°F, does best full sun and is very drought-tolerant. This plant has been crowed out by the date palm and we have thinned it out by necessity. The culm sheaths tend to hang on to the culms during the main growth season and remind one of the sails on a sail ship. The green culms often turn purplish brown giving this bamboo the common name of ‘red bamboo’. The rhizomes of the Semiarundinaria fastuosa go deeper than most of the Phyllostachys species. Notice that the Semiarundinaria fastuosa has sent up some new culms in a more open area - away from the Date Palm.

On the hillside you will see Phyllostachys bambusoides which is known as Giant Japanese Timber Bamboo and has straight, thick-walled culms and can grow 72 feet (yes, 72 feet) tall, and 6 inches in diameter. This species has only been in place there since January 2002 — so give it some time to develop.

Go thru the Rose Garden and into the Hartman Prehistoric Garden and there you will see the native American bamboo called Arundinaria gigantea. This grows 20 feet tall, one inch in diameter and is said to be tolerant of -10 °F.

Written by Carole Meckes, 2000
Revised April 2002 by Steve Muzos, and Updated by Carole Meckes - July 2006.