Phyllostachys glauca

Phyllostachys glauca is a bamboo that keeps its leaves all year. It belongs to Poaceae, the grass family. It comes from central and southern China. It grows in places with a temperate climate. Records list it in Anhui, Henan and Jiangsu. They also list Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi and Zhejiang. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Plants For A Future gives its height as about 16 feet [5 metres].

The canes have straight sections between their nodes, or joints. These sections, called internodes, lack ribs and split with ease. This makes the canes useful for a range of crafts. People weave with them and make furniture, containers and utensils. They also use them for tool handles and sheds. The plant suits woodland gardens and food forests, too. Its roots lie close to the surface. This makes it useful near trees whose roots grow deeper.

Grow this bamboo in rich, damp soil with shelter. It accepts sandy, loamy and clay soils. It tolerates mildly acid ground, as well as neutral soil. Mildly alkaline soil suits it, too. Plants For A Future says it grows in full sun. It also says the plant can grow in full shade. Yet its landscape guide favours shade with patches of light. A shady edge also suits it better than deep shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant is fairly hardy. But long spells of hard frost can harm it. The supplied sources give no hardiness zone or lowest temperature.

Many years pass between one flush of flowers and the next. Each flower has both male and female organs. Wind carries the pollen. Making seed puts a heavy strain on the plant. Some plants die after they flower. Yet those left alone often recover. Seed for new plants is hard to find. You can also divide plants in spring to grow more. Take care with the parts you lift. They do not grow well when moved. Plants For A Future reports strong resistance to honey fungus.

You can eat the young shoots raw or cooked. Harvest them in spring as they break through the soil. Plants For A Future says they have little bitterness or bite. Its guide says to cut shoots about 0.26 feet [0.08 metres] above ground. It lists both shoots and stems as parts to eat. The same source lists no known hazards. It also lists no known uses as medicine. The lack of known hazards does not prove safety for pets.