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Bamboo Brilliance: Unveiling the Cold-Hardy Wonders of Temperate Bamboo

November 21, 2023 Smrketa Comments 0 Comment

In the dynamic realm of cold-hardy horticulture, one plant stands tall—bamboo. Often associated with tropical landscapes, bamboo’s versatility transcends climate stereotypes. This article explores the cold-hardy bamboo spectrum, delving into its adaptability, aesthetic allure, and the practical uses that make it a horticultural marvel in colder climates.

The Rich Tapestry of Cold-Hardy Bamboo

Beyond the traditional image of bamboo swaying in tropical breezes, a rich tapestry of cold-hardy bamboo varieties paints a different picture. From the ever-charming Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo) to the less invasive Fargesia robusta (Clumping Bamboo) and the striking Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow Groove Bamboo), the cold-hardy bamboo spectrum offers horticulturists an exciting palette to work with.

Adaptability and Resilience

What sets cold-hardy bamboo apart is not only its visual appeal but its remarkable adaptability. These plants have evolved to withstand colder temperatures and diverse soil conditions, showcasing resilience that extends beyond the bounds of traditional horticultural expectations. Horticulturists can harness this adaptability to create thriving landscapes even in the face of challenging weather.

Aesthetic Appeal: Beyond Ornamentation

While temperate climate cold-hardy bamboo undeniably adds a touch of elegance to gardens, its aesthetic appeal extends beyond mere ornamentation. The tall, slender culms and lush green foliage create a living canvas that horticulturists can use strategically to enhance the visual appeal of their landscapes. Whether used as a focal point, a backdrop, or to delineate spaces, hardy bamboo lends an artistic touch to horticultural designs.

Practical Applications in Horticulture

The functionality of cold-hardy bamboo extends into the practical realm of horticulture. In erosion-prone areas, bamboo’s intricate root systems act as stabilizers, preventing soil erosion and promoting landscape sustainability. Horticulturists can leverage bamboo’s rapid growth to create natural barriers, windbreaks, and privacy screens. Additionally, bamboo serves as a renewable resource for crafting structures, adding a sustainable dimension to horticultural practices.

Horticultural Tips for Growing Cold-Hardy Bamboo

For horticulturists looking to integrate cold-hardy bamboo into their designs, understanding the plant’s needs is crucial. Optimal soil drainage, sunlight requirements, and selecting the right bamboo variety for specific climate zones are essential considerations while regular pruning and maintenance not only enhance the plant’s health but also enable horticulturists to sculpt and shape bamboo to suit their design visions.

Exploring some of the Most Cold-Hardy Bamboo Varieties

In the pursuit of cold-hardy horticulture, the selection of the right bamboo variety plays a pivotal role. Here, we delve into some of the most cold-hardy bamboo species, each possessing unique characteristics that make them resilient champions in colder climates.

Phyllostachys nuda (Nuda Bamboo):

Known for its exceptional cold tolerance, Phyllostachys nuda thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9. This bamboo species boasts elegant green culms that gradually develop a unique powdery bloom, adding a touch of sophistication to any landscape. Its clumping growth habit makes it an excellent choice for horticulturists seeking a well-behaved and resilient bamboo.

Fargesia dracocephala ‘Rufa’ (Dragon’s Head Bamboo):

With its graceful arching form and dense foliage, Fargesia dracocephala ‘Rufa’ is a cold-hardy gem. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, this clumping bamboo offers a non-invasive solution for horticulturists desiring an attractive, low-maintenance bamboo. Its vibrant green leaves create a lush, visually appealing display year-round.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Aureocaulis’ (Yellow Groove Bamboo):

Renowned for its cold resilience and distinctive yellow grooves on the culms, Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Aureocaulis’ is an eye-catching addition to cold-hardy landscapes. Flourishing in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9, this running bamboo provides a dynamic and visually striking element, making it a favorite among horticulturists with a flair for the exotic.

Fargesia robusta ‘Pingwu’ (Pingwu Bamboo):

Fargesia robusta ‘Pingwu’ stands out as a top choice for cold-hardy horticulturists seeking a clumping bamboo that excels in harsh conditions. Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, this species features dense foliage, creating an effective screen or windbreak. Its adaptability and resistance to cold make it an excellent candidate for a variety of horticultural applications.

Phyllostachys bissetii (Bisset’s Bamboo):

Ideal for USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, Phyllostachys bissetii is a hardy and fast-growing bamboo variety. With its dense, upright growth habit and dark green foliage, it serves as an excellent option for horticulturists looking to establish a resilient and visually appealing bamboo grove. Its adaptability to different soil types further enhances its horticultural appeal.

As horticulturists navigate the vast landscape of cold-hardy bamboo, the selection of the right variety becomes a crucial consideration. Whether opting for the elegant Phyllostachys nuda, the vibrant Fargesia dracocephala ‘Rufa,’ the exotic Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Aureocaulis,’ the robust Fargesia robusta ‘Pingwu,’ or the fast-growing Phyllostachys bissetii, each of these cold-hardy bamboo species brings a unique charm to horticultural designs. By integrating these resilient varieties, horticulturists can create captivating landscapes that thrive in the face of colder climates. Explore the diverse world of cold-hardy bamboo and discover the perfect variety to elevate your horticultural endeavors.

In the expansive world of cold-hardy horticulture, bamboo emerges as a versatile and resilient ally. Its adaptability, aesthetic allure, and practical uses make it an invaluable addition to the toolkit of horticulturists in colder climates. Embrace the wonders of cold-hardy bamboo, and watch as your horticultural designs flourish with the beauty and functionality these remarkable plants bring to the landscape. Explore the diverse range of cold-hardy bamboo species and let your horticultural creativity thrive in the face of changing seasons.

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Borinda fungosa winter damage 2016/2017

May 4, 2017 tarzan Comments 6 comments

This winter was quite brutal. Temperatures did not plunge lower than normal, but it got cold enough for the soil to completely freeze down to 0.5m and even deeper. With no snow cover to protect the delicate Borinda leaves, it stood little chance to survive the winter.

The cause

During early winter, there was no visible damage on any of my bamboos, even Borinda fungosa (gaolinensis?) fared much better than I expected. But then came a period when we received no snow, only freezing temperatures that remained below freezing even during the day. Combined with cold north eastern winds, soil cooled off considerably and it froze much deeper than usual. It remained frozen for quite some time, even when temperatures rose above freezing.

The damage

When temperatures got back to normal and after some “warm” rain, leaves lost their green color and it became evident that bamboo ended up completely top killed. Culms were all noticeably bleached, green culms had the darker green, somewhat watery appearance. At that point, I was sorry I didn’t tarp the bamboo and try my best to protect it. It all seems now, that no protection could have save it this winter – the weather was just too much for a marginal bamboo like Borinda to survive intact.

The awakening

There is still some life in it... — There is still some life in it…

In early spring, we’ve had a period of extremely warm weather which had awaken all the bamboos, including the badly damaged Borinda fungosa. I have completely removed the dried out culms and I soon noticed a couple of survival shoots, pushing out from the base of dead culms. Until now, there are no regular shoots that would prove that the bamboo is going to recover. I hope there are healthy rhizomes with undamaged rhizome buds below ground. Usually the first shoots appeared around mid May, hopefully they will push out this year as well.

The conclusion

Some small survival shoots started to emerge

Borinda fungosa I’ve been growing from seed for 6 years somehow managed to thrive in this marginal climate. It got damaged during the winter and didn’t like the heat in the summer, but it managed to grow and upsize into a very decent bamboo. This winter was not typical for us. At least not statistically. It’s sad that the same climate pattern started to repeat itself almost every year. Almost no winter precipitation, cool northern wind and sunny weather can dry out even more winter hardy bamboos. As if the winter was not bad enough, we were recently hit by a nasty late spring freeze. My Borinda doesn’t have the best growing conditions in my garden. It may perish in a year or two even if it survived this winter.

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Borinda fungosa update 2016

October 15, 2016 tarzan Comments 2 comments

This growing season, Borinda fungosa seedling was 5 years old. Like during it’s previous seasons, it started shooting late in the spring and managed only to push out a couple of shoots that were about the size of last year’s growth.
We’ve had relatively mild winter last year. Since there was not enough snow, to protect the bamboo, like year before, there was some damage. Most of the late summer shoots have been defoliated completely, fresh branches died off, but the culms remained alive. Most of the unbranched nodes restarted by mid spring. This year, one of late autumn shoots actually remained alive and started growing when soil temperature got high enough.

The shooting season began early, because one 3cm tall shoot from previous autumn managed to survive the winter. As usual, spring shots are roughly the same size as large shoots from previous year. With a bit more damage than usual, seedling lost at least 6 fully grown culms during the winter. Winter damage is probably the main cause of smaller upsize this year and very bad spring shooting cycle. The late summer / autumn shooting, however, ended up “heavier” than ever. Shoots are not much larger, but they really came out in great numbers this year.

Culms upsized a notch during their 5th season

The summer was quite dry, with abundance of sun and mild summer temperatures that never reached more than 33°C. Night temperatures also remained below 20°C most of the time. Leaves remained healthy and green throughout the whole summer. I was watering it occasionally, especially when the weather remained dry for longer periods of time in late summer. Borinda fungosa is supposed to look bad in warm and dry weather, but it seems that with maturity, the plant became resilient enough to withstand strong, full sun exposure. Seedling behaved differently from any of my bamboos from the early beginning. The shooting is usually completed in about 2 months. Not the case with my Borinda. Shoots are maturing throughout the whole season, and only the earliest shoots manage to harden off completely before the winter cold destroys all the branches that are still soft. During summer, it looks healthy, but it’s growth slows down considerably. With cooler weather in late summer it starts growing faster and doesn’t stop until hard frosts kick in.

So far the vigor and overall appearance of Borinda fungosa seedling is surprisingly good. Due to the fact, that it grows in marginal climate with cold winters and (too?) warm summers, it grows extremely well. It survived cold, drought, heat, got infested with insects, rodents,… It grows faster than all of my Phyllostachys seedlings, including my vigorous Phyllostachys pubescens ‘Moso’.

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Cold

December 5, 2013 tarzan Comments 14 comments

Cold weather ends the growing season sooner or later, this year it was rather soon. With no snow insulation, cold can induce more damage that with thick layer of snow insulation. This year, despite all the cold, we are yet to see the first snow.

Hard frosts had made Borinda fungosa suffer. — Hard frosts had made *Borinda fungosa* suffer.

Borinda fungosa seedling was holding on very well down to -5°C. Soon night temperature dropped down to -7°C and many of the leaves got damaged. Leaves that remained undamaged, surprisingly remained unfolded even during sunny and windy weather. It did loose all the shoots from this autumn, as it did last winter, but this time, some of them remained tall, only loosing their fragile top. Perhaps in the spring, they will begin the branching process. Cold weather persisted for around two weeks, daily highs were slightly above or below freezing, it was sunny and windy most of the time. Morning low temperatures were between -5°C and -8°C. This is it’s second winter outside, I’ll see how it resists cold. Last year when it was covered in thick layer of snow most of the winter, it managed to keep most of the leaves intact.
Well, the problem with all that snow insulation was weight. Heavy wet snow broke all the taller culms and only a couple of old tiny ones remained. Dead shoots that grew in late fall were not all dead, one of them managed to grow branches around the lowest node, that was buried under thick layer of mulch.
After almost a month of very cold weather, with fog persisting through most of the day, with day temperature slightly below freezing, leafs managed to unfold, showing the damage. It looks like most, if not all, leaves were completely killed or badly damaged. Culms and branches are showing their dark brown color and they seem to be alive even after prolonged period of cold weather. Hopefully in 4 months we’ll get some warm weather for it to recover.

Shiroshima with it's beautiful varieagated leaves remains almost intact. — Shiroshima with it’s beautiful varieagated leaves remains almost intact.

Hibanobambusa tranquilans ‘Shiroshima’ is looking hardy enough to survive this kind of cold dry weather without hassle. There’s no evident damage, not even on several late fall whip shoots. Whips stopped growing with arrival of cold weather, lower nodes actually hardened enough to drop off culm sheathes, while their tops remained fresh and stopped growing completely. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if they resume in the spring. With temperatures close to freezing, white variegation on the leaves turned into bright yellow color, making bamboo look even better.

Moso seedling that remained inside the pot is showing quite some damage.

Phyllostachys pubescens ‘Moso’ seedling that escaped it’s pot is showing moderate leaf damage. It’s evident, that there’s almost no damage on the escaped part of bamboo that ran out of the pot two seasons ago. Leaves that were pale during the summer and showed some kind of stress, wilted after first heavy frost. Dark green leaves mostly remained undamaged, but they do tend to wilt when exposed

Moso seedling shows some damage, but it looks quite good.

to sun. Wilting is normal, because soil already got frozen on top and bamboo have to save water inside it’s leaves.
The part that escaped managed to put out numerous runners and a couple of shoots that barely poked out through the mulch. They are most likely whip shoots that missed their growing season. So far they haven’t got soft and are most likely alive, waiting to resume in the spring. Last year, pot ended up as home of mice family that stayed there throughout the winter. They didn’t do much damage, but there were holes all around the pot and I’m sure there was some root damage. Well, better mice than voles! They can devastate whole bamboo clumps.

Umbrella palm seedlings, planted around the garden and inside the pond didn’t take the cold well. First hard frost killed everything above the soil/water level, and most likely, rhizomes as well. We’ll see if it restarts in the spring, if not, I still have one large seedling kept safely inside.
At first dark green damaged leaves turned into straw color. They’ve kept their appearance as they would still be alive. Dry clumps of umbrella papyrus are looking quite good. I’m going to keep them for a while, if rain or snow doesn’t make them look ugly that is.