What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

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Rio
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Location: Santa Cruz, California

What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by Rio »

Hello All-- Any ideas what this bamboo is?
Thanks!!

Fairly dark green, short, narrow leaves.
light green 1/2" to 3/4" culms that never seem to completely lose the sheaf.
Culms are straight.
Clumper.
Does well in full shade.
8 to 10 feet tall.
Very bushy looking.
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needmore
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Re: What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by needmore »

Perhaps a Chusquea?
Brad Salmon, zone 12B Kea'au, HI
http://www.needmorebamboo.com
Chris S
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Location: SE UK 400ft Zone 8/7 Low usually 28F, -4C (-10, -12, -14, -1, -6C last 5); High 99F, 37C in 2019
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Re: What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by Chris S »

Agreed. Chusquea gigantea. And definitely not Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' :lol: .
Chris
SE England
bamboo-identification.co.uk

Think globally, act locally
fredgpops
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Re: What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by fredgpops »

Can't tell the size for sure but looks on the small side for gigantea. Looks more like a culeou or a smaller version of culeou like cana prieta. Rgds
fredgpops
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Re: What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by fredgpops »

The acid test is whether the new shoots have primarily red and cream coloring. if they do, it's gigantea. Check the photos section to compare new shoots of culeou and gigantea. As gigantea culms mature, they have dark red coloring, then red giving way to dark green coloring. Fully mature culms turn yellow with green nodes. Rgds
Van-isle-bamboo
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Re: What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by Van-isle-bamboo »

How long have you had it for?

In your zone 9b, and if it was C. Gigantea it can get very large. Gigantea tends to shoot at angles when immature. Also there should be a larger branch at the nodes( longer) compared to the other branches. I'm only saying this stuff because I grow Gigantea.

Nice looking boo tho
fredgpops
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Re: What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by fredgpops »

All chusquea has a dominant branch. Some more dominant than others. Good identification input however. The climbers only have one large branch for groping and climbing. A interesting family. If this grove is recent, the new shoots (coloring) will indicate the specific species of chusquea. Lots of great photos from around the world on this site. A great site to experience and learn about and appreciate bamboo worldwide. This resource makes the site extremely important as learning (bamboo tool). RGds
Rio
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Re: What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by Rio »

Thanks to all for your insights and suggestions! Fredgpops suggestion of Chusquea culeou 'Caña Prieta' jiggled a node in my ever-receding memory that it is, in fact, just that. I got it from a friend about 10 years ago and it has been thriving in near-constant shade ever since. I'm going to try and transplant some of it to a very sunny place along the south-facing side of my house and see how it does. I just read up on it and it's supposed to fare just fine in full sun. We shall see.

Thanks again!
fredgpops
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Re: What, Pray, is This Bamboo?

Post by fredgpops »

Interested in any extra plants you dig up. I usually have 20 bamboo species potted for trades - clumpers and runners. I'm in Scotts Valley abt 15 minutes away. PM me when/if interested. Rgds
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