Mail order source question

[OKbamboo]

Was wondering if any had bought the largest size that some of these mail order bamboo dealers sell and what sort of plant material they received. Were you happy with what was shipped, etc...? The ones I am particularly curious about are Bamboo Sourcery in California, Lewis Bamboo in Alabama and Bamboo Garden Nursery in Oregon.

[kstanwick]

I'll comment on bamboo Gardens.....No problems i got a 5 gal dulcis last year. I think 5 gal is the max they might ship.

[boonatick]

From what I've heard over the last few years is all three of those are excellent choices,,,I've gotten plants from Bamboo Gardens and was impressed with the quality of shipping ...Bamboo Sorcery also has been very helpful in there costomer service dept,,,there are lots of good choices ,those three included,,,,,

[kudzu9]

Are you looking for the biggest whole plant that can be shipped, or the biggest topped plant that can be shipped? I've gotten a few 6'-8' bamboo that had flexible enough culms that they could be bent over and sent in a 4' high box, and avoided topping in that way.

[JakeK]

I purchased a 3 gallon size P. vivax from JM Bamboo 4 years ago was a very nice division. It has really taken off in sizing up.

I received the division and the majority of the culms were topped at about 3 feet, but one was thin and about 7 feet tall and that one was bent over in the box, but the best part was the size of the rootball and rhizomes, they were huge.

I know most of us like to get large healthy divisions if it is possible, but for mail order a big rootball with large rhizomes is more important to fast start than tall culms. Just my opinion though.

Jake