Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens aka Greenwax Golden Bamboo

Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens is an evergreen bamboo in the grass family. Its common names include green-glaucous bamboo and lüfenzhu. It comes from southeastern China, where it grows in temperate regions. Plants For A Future lists Anhui, Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Its wild habitats include woodland on both mountains and plains. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This vigorous plant forms a large, dense thicket through suckering growth. Garden plants reach about 13–26 feet (4–8 m) tall. Their spread reaches about 8–13 feet (2.5–4 m). The RHS gives five to ten years to reach maturity. Young canes are green and turn yellow-green as they age. The plant carries many bright green leaves with glaucous undersides. These leaves reach about 0.5 feet (0.15 m) long. Its evergreen foliage gives screens cover through the winter months.

Grow it in rich loam with plenty of humus. The soil should hold moisture but let excess water drain. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline soil conditions. Choose full sun or partial shade in a sheltered spot. Protect the leaves and canes from cold, drying winds. The RHS rates its UK hardiness as H5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–9. For pots, the RHS recommends peat-free compost with a loam base. Feed container plants monthly during the growing season with balanced liquid fertiliser.

Its tall canes suit screens, hedges and bold garden planting. It can also grow in containers on patios. Plants For A Future places it along woodland edges. The canes have a practical use as supports for plants. Allow space for the thicket and watch its spread. The RHS warns that warm, moist conditions can make it invasive. This differs from the low weed risk reported by Plants For A Future. Divide plants in spring to make new ones. Remove dead, weak or damaged canes then, and thin crowded growth. Slugs may attack it, but the RHS reports few disease problems. The RHS also advises prompt removal of flowering shoots.

Young shoots are edible and can be cooked for food. Harvest them in spring while they stand just above ground. Reports differ on whether raw shoots have an acrid taste. Cooking is the use supported by Plants For A Future. That source lists no known hazards and no medicinal uses. Its edible-parts list includes both shoots and stems.