Chimonobambusa marmorea aka Marbled Bamboo

Chimonobambusa marmorea is an evergreen bamboo in the grass family, Poaceae. Its common names include marbled bamboo and kan-chiku. Kew lists its native range across central and southern China and parts of Japan. Plants For A Future notes its long history of cultivation in Japan. That source also says its original wild habitat remains unclear. It is a plant of temperate climates.

This low bamboo reaches about 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres] tall and wide in gardens. The RHS also describes plants around 6.6 feet [2 metres] tall. Plants reach mature size within two to five years. New shoots are lime green, with brown and white markings. The canes arch and can take on purple tones in full sun. Short branches grow in tufts along the canes. Their slender green leaves reach about 4 inches [0.1 metres] long. The plant keeps its leaves through winter and spreads by suckering.

Partial shade gives the best growing conditions, though this bamboo tolerates sun. Choose fertile loam with plenty of humus. Keep the soil moist, but allow excess water to drain. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. Shelter from cold winds suits it best. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. Warm, moist sites can encourage invasive spread. This warning matters despite PFAF recording no weed potential.

Its low height suits small screens, hedges, and planted groups. The marked shoots and arching canes also give it architectural value. It can grow in patio containers or along woodland edges. For pots, use a peat-free compost based on loam. Give container plants a balanced liquid feed each month during growth. In spring, remove dead, weak, damaged, and thin stems. Thinning also makes the canes easier to see. The RHS advises removing flowering shoots to discourage further flowering. No flowering season is given in the supplied evidence.

Slugs may attack this bamboo, but the RHS reports few disease problems. Propagate it from seed, by division, or with spring rhizome cuttings. Divided plants may take time to settle. Young shoots can be cooked for food. PFAF also lists stems among the edible parts. Seeds can serve as a cereal, but crops are sparse and irregular. PFAF reports no known hazards, rather than proof of safety for every use. It records no known medicinal uses.