Phyllostachys - Bamboo

Phyllostachys are a genus comprising of bamboo and the majority of species in the genus are native to Asia. Within the genus there are around 75 species, and from this there are over 200 varieties of bamboo. The Latin name of Phyllostachys means ‘leaf spike’, and this name is in reference to the inflorescences.

Bamboos are probably best known for their canes, which have countless uses, but when still growing as part of the tree they are generally referred to as culms. The culms have distinctive grooves that mark the segments of the bamboo (also known as the internodes) and the culms come in a wide variety of colours. Each node usually has 2 leafy branches shooting out from it along the whole culm, and this feature makes the bamboo perfect for evergreen screening.

There are two types of bamboos within this genus: running bamboos and clump forming bamboos. The clump forming bamboos tend to be more manageable for the average gardener, whereas the running bamboos can be more invasive if the roots are not blocked by a physical barrier in the ground. All varieties of bamboo are manageable with a little maintenance and their glowing canes will become a real asset to your garden.