Himalayacalamus falconeri

Himalayacalamus falconeri is a bamboo in the grass family, Poaceae. Gardeners also know it as candy cane bamboo. Its native range runs from the Himalaya to Tibet. Records include Bhutan, Nepal, and several parts of northern India. It grows in cool forests with broad-leaved trees. These habitats lie at heights of 6,560–8,200 feet [2,000–2,500 metres]. Older names include Thamnocalamus falconeri and Arundinaria falconeri.

This medium-sized bamboo forms clumps rather than a broad stand. In gardens, it reaches about 10 feet [3 metres] tall and wide. The RHS gives a maturity period of five to ten years. Its slim green stems bend with ease. As they age, they turn shades of brown and red. Stems in their second year arch downwards. They carry small leaves in a bright shade of green. These curved stems give the plant a softer shape than upright canes. Sources differ on whether it keeps its leaves year-round.

Choose a site with part shade and shelter from cold winds. Shade helps keep the fine leaves from scorching in strong sun. The soil should stay moist but drain well. This bamboo accepts clay, loam, and sandy soils. It also grows in acid, neutral, or alkaline ground. The RHS rates its hardiness as H4. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 7–10. In colder areas, protect the base with a thick mulch. Its forest habitat makes it suited to dappled woodland shade. A shaded garden edge is another suitable place.

The coloured canes give this bamboo a clear role in garden design. The RHS suggests it for courtyards and city gardens. It also suits informal gardens and planting with a subtropical style. Remove weak, dead, damaged, or thin stems in spring. This also helps reveal the remaining canes. Divide clumps in early spring to raise new plants. The RHS reports few pest or disease problems. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

Young shoots provide food when cooked as a vegetable. People gather them in Nepal and Bhutan. This harvest can compete with the demand for weaving canes. The thin-walled stems weigh little and bend without much force. People use them for baskets and other woven work. Wild plants supply much of this material. Plants For A Future records no known hazards or medicinal uses. Its food use refers to cooked young shoots, not every plant part.