Cold weather black bamboo

[wayne57]

I am knew to the bamboo growing hobby and would like to know if there are any hardy black bamboo types that can take a zone 5 or 6 enviroment
(Middle new york area)

thanks

wayne

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Wayne,
FYI, here's a link to photos of Phyllostachys nigra species (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=527) at our Gallery Bamboo Flora.
My own personal observations of growing several species of Phyllostachys nigra in NE Pennsylvania (mountains) was that the cut-off temperature for top hardiness was around 0 F / - 18 C with leaf burn/defoliation ensuing at warmer temps. (10 F to 0 F).
Portions of the plant that were protected by snow cover or other means survived and grew new leaves.
Regardless, if the plant had an established rhizome root system, they still produced new shoots the following spring, though only growing to about 6-8 ft tall
Top growth can survive winter temps in Philadelphia, Easton, even Boston MA , if the winter isn't too severe.

One species, Phyllostachys nigra 'Hale' is purported to be more cold tolerant, but at my location, where temps would often go below - 10 F, it didn't appear any hardier.

If the bamboo is planted in a protected micro climate, ie near a building, etc, top growth may have a better chance of surviving, as high winds / wind chill factor will desiccate leaves and the leaf buds at branch nodes that produce new leaves the following spring.

~ Mark