Phyllostachys rubromarginata aka Reddish Bamboo

Phyllostachys rubromarginata is a bamboo known as reddish bamboo. It belongs to Poaceae, the grass family. Its native range lies in China. Kew lists Guangxi and Guizhou as its home provinces. Plants For A Future also lists Anhui and Guangdong. It grows in temperate climates, where it stays green year-round. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This bamboo grows fast to about 26 feet [8 metres] tall. Its canes have several uses in homes and gardens. People use them as plant supports and weave them into baskets. They also make musical pipes from the canes. It keeps its leaves and suits woodland gardens. It also suits edges with some shade. These uses add to its value as an edible spring crop.

Grow it in rich, moist soil, with shelter from exposure. It accepts sand, loam, and clay soils. Soil can be mildly acidic, neutral, or mildly alkaline. It grows in full sun or part shade. Give it plenty of water through the growing season. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 7–10. That source says it tolerates about −5 to −10°C. Long spells of hard frost can cause problems. It is less suited to colder parts of Britain.

Flowers appear only after gaps of many years. Each flower has both male and female organs. Wind carries the pollen. Making seeds can drain much of the plant’s strength. Some plants die once they flower. Others take several years to recover. Plants For A Future reports strong resistance to honey fungus. Seeds are scarce, so growers can also divide plants in spring. Lift the pieces as fresh growth starts, best in wet weather. Give these fresh pieces close care under cover before planting out.

Young shoots are safe to eat after cooking. Raw shoots have some acridity, a harsh taste that boiling removes. The cooked shoots can go into salads or other dishes. Harvest them in spring, while the shoots are still short. The source says to cut just below the soil surface. Plants For A Future lists shoots and stems as edible parts. It lists no known uses as medicine and no known hazards. That claim does not prove they are safe for pets. Nor does it prove they are safe to eat raw.