Dendrocalamus giganteus aka Giant Bamboo

Dendrocalamus giganteus is a huge, evergreen bamboo in the grass family. Its common names include giant bamboo, dragon bamboo and kyo-chiku. Its native range runs from West Bengal, India, to Yunnan, China. It also grows wild in Myanmar and northwestern Thailand. It lives in damp tropical upland forests. These habitats reach about 3,940 feet [1,200 metres] above sea level. Growers also raise it for timber and display.

This fast-growing bamboo forms dense clumps of tall, woody stems. Cultivated plants reach about 98 feet [30 metres] tall. Clumps can spread to about 49 feet [15 metres] wide. One account gives an upper height of 131 feet [40 metres]. The straight culms bend at their tips. Their smooth walls are thick, and their colour is grey-green. Near the base, culms measure 0.6–0.8 feet [0.18–0.25 metres] across. New shoots emerge with a dark purple-black colour.

This species suits warm, damp tropical and subtropical sites. It grows best where daytime temperatures range from 20–27°C. It accepts full sun or light shade. Rich soil laid down by rivers suits it well. It also grows in sandy, loamy or clay soils. Soil should drain well yet stay moist. Its preferred pH range is 5.5–6.5, though it tolerates 4.5–7.5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 9–12. Its great height gives it value as an ornamental plant.

Flowers appear only after gaps of many years. Wind carries the pollen, and seed is seldom available. Growers most often divide clumps to make new plants. Culm and branch cuttings can work, but rooting them is hard. Young plants may stay short for several years. Cutting their stems to ground level can prompt taller growth. The supplied accounts give no specific pest or disease problems. Useful Tropical Plants reports Least Concern status from the 2013 IUCN assessment.

Young shoots are edible when cooked, with a soft, creamy texture. They are not a widely eaten crop. Both plant-use sources report no known hazards. Traditional medicine uses a silica-rich stem secretion as a tonic and aphrodisiac. This reported use does not establish that it works. The canes supply building poles, scaffolds, pipes and boat masts. Split strips serve for mats and baskets. Thick culm walls also provide material for boards and paper. Large stem sheaths supply material for hats. Plantings can help hold soil against erosion.