Bamboo Companions

Other plants we have or landscape elements like ponds.

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johnw
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Bamboo Companions

Post by johnw »

We were at a garden party - albeit a rather chilly night for one - last night and several of the plants there struck me as great companions for bamboos.

Rhododendron roxieanum v. oreonastes (only for very cool summer areas)

Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo' (aka Floating Cloud)

Acer palmatum 'Koto-No-Ito'

johnw - 16c today, sunny and dam. Now foggy.
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Rhododendron roxieanum v. oreonastes.jpg
Acer palmatum Ukigumo.jpg
Acer palmatum Koto-No-Ito-3.jpg
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
johnw
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Re: Bamboo Companions

Post by johnw »

The foliage on these Japanese maples is spectacular.

Acer palmatum 'Koto-No-Ito' - some of the leaves are as thin as a line.

Acer palmatum 'Ukigumo' - some leaves almost completely white. How it manages to have any vigour is puzzling.

We can grow these in full sun but elsewhere, where it gets hot in summer, part shade might be well-advised.

johnw - foggy and +9c.
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Acer palmatum Koto-No-Ito-2.jpg
Acer palmatum Ukigumo-2.jpg
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
canadianplant
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Re: Bamboo Companions

Post by canadianplant »

I use notrigen fixing plants as companions to help fertilize the boo. Right now I have a Russian Olive beside my Phyllostachys, and 80yr old carrigana beside my Fargesia. Depending on the bamboo, I would like to try to create a "natural" community. I know that most fargesia grow in Pine/Oak forest communities in china, and some next/near some small palms (One is Trachycarpus Nanus). The only thing is its hard to get any specifics for each bamboo species, since some have a wide range in the wild.

Too bad Japanese maples dont make it here (unless youre lucky), theyre gorgeous trees. The closest I can get is the native Snakebark maple (Acer Pennsylvanium (sp)), and The korean maple (Acer Pseudoseboldium (sp)).
jpluddite
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Re: Bamboo Companions

Post by jpluddite »

Canadianplant,


Since fargesias grow in/around pine forests and pine needles are acidic, do fargesias prefer acidic soil?

jp
canadianplant
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Re: Bamboo Companions

Post by canadianplant »

jpluddite wrote:Canadianplant,


Since fargesias grow in/around pine forests and pine needles are acidic, do fargesias prefer acidic soil?

jp

Thats what I would assume, but literature doesnt mention this at all. Im pretty sure my soil is neutral, and my fargesia loves it. I would take a guess by saying it would depend on whether its going in a forest thats primarily Oak or Pine. ITs probably adaptable in its soil conditions.
johnw
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Re: Bamboo Companions

Post by johnw »

canadianplant wrote:
jpluddite wrote:Canadianplant,


Since fargesias grow in/around pine forests and pine needles are acidic, do fargesias prefer acidic soil?

jp

Thats what I would assume, but literature doesnt mention this at all. Im pretty sure my soil is neutral, and my fargesia loves it. I would take a guess by saying it would depend on whether its going in a forest thats primarily Oak or Pine. ITs probably adaptable in its soil conditions.

Much easier as a rule to grow alkaline plants in acidic soil than the reverse. I'd bet the Fargesias will not mind neutral, I wonder how rich the soil is on the mountains of China.

Often collectors in China report rhodos growing on limestone when in fact they are in a thin layer of acidic litter atop porous limestome. The fact that water always flows sharply downwards always avoids any alkalinity in the root zone.
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
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