Chimonobambusa quadrangularis aka Square Stemmed Bamboo

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis is a bamboo that stays green all year. It belongs to Poaceae, the grass family. Its names include square bamboo, shiho-chiku, and shikakudake. Kew gives its native range as southeastern China to Vietnam. This range includes Taiwan. It grows in forests within a subtropical flora. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Plants For A Future also lists it in Japan.

This bamboo grows to about 10 feet [3 metres] tall. Its canes can reach about 0.8 inches [20 millimetres] across. It keeps its leaves all year. The canes suit small jobs in the garden. Use them to support plants or to make crafts. The plant can form a hedge or screen. It also suits woodland gardens and edges with shade.

Give it moist soil in a spot with some shade. It prefers loam but grows in sand and clay too. It accepts mildly acid soil and neutral ground. Mildly alkaline soil suits it as well. Do not let the soil dry out; it dislikes drought. Choose a site safe from cold north and east winds. Reports differ on how much cold it can bear. One says it grows well in Britain only in the mildest areas. Another reports that it survives near 5°F [-15°C]. Hard winters can still harm its leaves. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. Shelter at the site still matters.

Many years pass between each bout of bloom. Each flower has both male and female organs. Wind carries the pollen. When it blooms, the plant spends much energy making seeds. The evidence gives no set bloom season or fruit details. Seeds are scarce, but you can also split plants in spring. Do this as new growth starts. Keep at least three canes in each clump. Disturb the roots as little as you can. Grow these clumps in light shade until they take hold. Seeds need warmth and compost that stays moist.

People in China and Japan grow this bamboo for food. Cook the young shoots before you eat them. Plants For A Future lists shoots and stems as edible. It reports no known hazards. This does not amount to a full safety assessment. The same source lists no use as medicine. It also says the plant resists honey fungus. Its food value gives gardeners one reason to grow it. Its useful canes and role as a screen offer more.