Phyllostachys makinoi aka Makino Bamboo

Phyllostachys makinoi is an evergreen bamboo in the grass family, Poaceae. Common names include Makino bamboo and Kei-Chiku. Kew lists its native range as Fujian in China and Taiwan. It grows in a subtropical climate. Plants For A Future places it in open forest. Its habitat reaches elevations of about 4,920 feet [1,500 metres].

This bamboo grows to about 20 feet [6 metres] tall. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. Its tough, dense culms have many uses beyond the garden. In Taiwan, people use the canes for scaffolding and building. They also make furniture, paper, umbrellas, containers, and farm tools. Its lasting foliage suits woodland gardens and shaded edges. Its shallow roots can share space with deeper-rooted trees.

Grow it in rich, moist soil with shelter from harsh weather. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It also tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. A site in sun or partial shade suits it. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 7–10. The same source gives cold tolerance of about −5 to −10°C. Long spells of hard frost can damage it. These limits make shelter an important part of choosing a site.

Flowers appear only after gaps of many years. Each flower has both male and female organs. Wind carries the pollen. Seed production can drain the plant and leave it weak. Some plants die after flowering, though others recover when left undisturbed. Plants For A Future reports resistance to honey fungus. Seed is scarce, and its germination may take three to six months. Spring division offers another way to raise plants. Divisions lifted from open ground need careful care while they establish.

Young shoots provide food when cooked. Plants For A Future describes boiling them with at least one water change. Harvest takes place in spring, while shoots remain short. Cut them when they stand about 0.26 feet [0.08 metres] above ground. The cut goes about 0.16 feet [0.05 metres] below soil level. The source lists both shoots and stems as edible parts. It reports no known hazards and no known medicinal uses. That hazard statement does not establish that raw shoots are safe.