How far would a Phyllostachys nigra "black bamboo" spread?

[Despotate of bamboo]

How far does the Phyllostachys nigra "black bamboo" spread out when it reaches a mature stage of development? I have heard that this running bamboo is somewhat less invasive the most other types although I do not have a conclusive way of testing it yet. If measured in terms of an average backyard or backyards how much space would this plant expand to? Would it be able to escape from a backyard to a front yard?

[Mark Meckes]

Hi, my personal observations is that given ideal conditions, Phyllostachys nigra can be a vigorous and rambunctious spreader, though to generalize, some Phyllostachys are more vigorous.
Not knowing how far it is from your backyard to front yard, or the growing conditions, I wouldn't know how long it would take to travel from front to back... :)
Of healthy divisions that I planted several years ago,(Central Texas) the first two years they stayed fairly near to their original planting producing copious quantities of shoots , almost appearing clumping in nature. Ha! by the 3rd year they are well on their way to exploring new territories.
As of today, new shoots are just starting to emerge. I don't know yet the extent of their travels. The growing conditions beyond where I planted them is not the most ideal.
I dug my divisions from someone whose black bamboo had been in the ground for maybe 8 or so years, and had traveled about 20+ feet.
The divisions I dug had very robust rhizomes as deep down as the blade of my digging spade. It took some huffing and puffing to pop some of them out of the ground.
I love the way that the rhizomes are also black - beautiful for arts and crafts.

Mark

[Mark Meckes]

Mid April (Central Texas) and our Phyllostachys nigra shoots are on the up n up.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/527/thumbs/PnigraATX050413-115.jpg See larger pic (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=982)
Showing spread in clay type soil from a healthy division planted April 2003.
The first year shoots grew within the clump.
The second year additional shoots grew within the division, and about 2-4 ft away from the planting.
The 3rd year new shoots are an additional 4 ft (1M) away from previous years' shoots.
One shoot (not shown, appeared on it's own, 10 ft (2.5M) distance from the original planting.

I have heard mention numerous times that black bamboo is less spreading... Ha!
Two reasons for this myth come to mind...
- Can't remember the date, but a decade or so ago some black bamboos were in flowering, and this would have reduced their vigour during this period.
- Phyllostachys nigra is a very popular, sought after plant, which means that it is propagated from extensively. In response the `mother planting' produces many new rhizomes, which in turn produce many culms in close proximity to each other, making it look very much like a clumping bamboo.
The bamboo must expend all it's energy supporting these close-knit culms, till the rhizome leaders burrow deeper, travel further and send up larger, more distanced culms.
The black bamboo, pictured above has now moved into our walkway.
I will move the walkway over this year, but the plan for the future is to remove and/or eat the shoots, and to dig up the rhizomes beyond this point, after they have aged sufficiently, for craft use.

Mark

[Gardens2C]

Just finished a great meal last night of the shoots of P. nigra! It is one of the top tasting bamboos and can be frozen for use all year - which is a nice way to keep, as Mark said, a rambunctious creature under control :) But it does spread - we get about 5 feet a year after the 3rd year here in Virginia in good soils.