Cold-tolerant species, but what is it? (Ans. Arundo donax)

[petunialover]

I got a whole grove of bamboo from a friend, this bamboo doesn't really resemble any of the bamboo in your gallery. The top is a frond like a parlor palm plant, the leaves are then one per segment all down the plant, after pulling all the leaves off there is a husk on each segment. The top apprears to have a grassy seed stalk, I didn't find any seeds in it however. I was told it was from a single root? Corm? my friend received and planted.

Should I even try to use the seed stalks to propagate this or just wait for my friend to dig me some bulbs or whatever next Spring? Also I have a good sized woods in my back yard can I grow it in there? How about down by the creek? I know I'm greedy, but I can't get enough of these stalks to build with.
TIA

PL

[Mark Meckes]

Hi PL, is it Arundo donax?
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/572/thumbs/Adonax050810ATX-910.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1302)

See category for bamboo-like Grasses - Arundo donax (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=572) at Bamboo Flora

Though bamboos are in the Grass (Gramineae) Family, Arundo donax is not technically a bamboo, though it has bamboo-like stalks (culms).

Here's one way to tell the difference between a bamboo and a grass.
A bamboo has a petiole (short stem) between the leaf and sheath that's attached to the branch.

Bamboo leaf (Phyllostachys aurea) with petiole(stem) between leaf and sheath attachment
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1PaureaTX050330-854.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=973)

A grass, like this Arundo donax leaf has no petiole
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/572/thumbs/Adonax050810ATX-907.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1300)

Let me know if I am on the right track to ID your plant as there are other grasses with flowering tops and bamboo-like stems.

Re: propagation, the best method is to dig up a division of rhizomes in the early spring, preferably before new leaf growth commences.

It grows best in full sun, especially for craft use. I grew it in NE Pennsylvania some years ago and the culms died back annually, growing new shoots the following spring. I found that the material was not as strong, and had a more pithy inner core than bamboo, but I was biased, having lots of bamboo to work with.

Further south the culms will survive for a number of years, and the culms grown for at least 3 years are better for craft use.
... though I was surprised at the strength of this 6 month old split culms:
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/572/thumbs/AdonaxAuTX051001-086.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=2805)

Mark

[petunialover]

Yes, sigh, I'm afraid so. I had hoped for sturdy and craftable bamboo. I will have to be adaptable. btw, what's a petiole?
Thank you,

PL