Spacing Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'

[Dean W.]

Hi,

I have one of these on its way and I am wondering about the space I should give it. If I planted it in the ground. I have read you should space the plants about 8 feet apart. Other places, I have read the plant gets about 10 foot in width. The pictures I have looked at in the gallery show a huge width. I assume it grows into a an V type shape.

How is the wood quality for crafts?

Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

Dean

[Mark Meckes]

You're right Dean, in an ideal climate Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' can get huge.
Here's Carole standing under a planting at Mercer Arboretum, just north of Houston:
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/569/thumbs/BaKarrMcrTX-102.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=2523)

I haven't seen any this large here in Austin.
Ours, which has been in the ground for about ten years is about 15 ft tall.
(will have to check on other dimension/spread etc)

True, it grows in a V shape but the culms of B. multiplex species can get so tightly packed that some new culms have no option but to weave their way out at the edges sometimes producing a more fan shaped form.
This is where selective thinning comes into play as the planting expands, by removing older and thinner culms and cutting back excessive or strongly angled shoots on a side that you do not wish the plant to expand.

These bamboos will grow as much smaller plantings if grown in a container or confined space, though one will need to pot up, divide or fertilize to keep the planting robust.

Regarding craft use
Bambusa multiplex ''Alphonse Karr' has fairly thick culm walls but the starchy content and not as lustrous waxy surface coating can make them susceptible to faster degradation outdoors and in some regions are attracted to borers.

There are ways to prevent these problems and we do utilize some of our harvest for various craft applications.

Mark

[Dean W.]

Mark,

I saw that picture of Carole with the Bambusa Multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’ and I was amazed at how big it can get. I know Houston can be a bit warmer than Austin so I’m not completely astonished at how big it can get. This specimen is probably older than others I have seen.

Please do check on the dimension of yours, I would be interested in knowing how much space it actually needs in Central Texas.

Selective thinning is not a problem for me. I rather enjoy working w/ my boo.

Thanks for the information on the quality of the culms.

Are the shoots edible?

Dean

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Dean,
I haven't tried eating the shoots of Bambusa multiplex species but they are supposedly edible, though I've been told, bitter if they are not blanched by covering them with straw or some other means so that they are not exposed to sunlight as they emerge.
In this way if shoots can grow several inches above the soil the harvest is greater - but at the expense of bitterness if exposed to sun.
With smaller shoots, after the majority of sheaths are peeled off, there's not much left for the table.

I measured the diameter of our clump of Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' which was planted in 1996 and it measures from 5 1/2 > 6 1/2 ft (around 1.5 > 2 M) in diameter. (it's not perfectly round)
Due to the surrounding plantings, the base of our clump gets intermittent/filtered light - not direct full sun exposure, though the top growth gets full sun.
These pics show shoots emerging in July, then in September 2007.
Occasional branching usually starts at about 3ft (1M), though I've cut off some higher branches to expose the culms.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/569/thumbs/BmAKAuTX070721-9692.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=5081) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/569/thumbs/BmAKAuTX070916-9025.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=5082)

The empty space in the clump, shown below, is the location of the original planting, autumn 1996, (11 years ago).
Older culms have been removed over the years, and though the majority of shoot growth is around the perimeter, as the older interior rhizome system decomposes, new and more spaced shoots are emerging from within the clump.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/569/thumbs/BmAKAuTX070916-9026.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=5083)

Photo below ... On the left (north side), the planting arches 10+ft (3M) past the clump base (over a planting of Indocalamus tessellatus).
On the right (south side), the culms are more vertical, kept in place by an arching heavyweight - Bambusa tuldoides 'Ventricosa' (a non Buddha Belly form)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/569/thumbs/BmAKAuTX070916-9030.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=5084)

By contrast, below is a clump of B.m. 'Alphonse Karr' growing in full sun out in an open field in Buckholts Texas (about 70 miles NE of Austin).
It's been in the ground about a dozen years, having very little if any of the interior/older culms removed from the core.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/569/thumbs/BmAKChBTX070619-9374.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=5080) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/569/thumbs/BmAKChBTX070619-9375.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=5079)

Mark

[Dean W.]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the information on edibleness and diameter. I wont be eating the shoots, at least not any time soon and the bottom diameter if much smaller than I had imagined.

It will have to stay in a pot for now until or if I can convince my wife I’m not turning our yard into a jungle.

I’ve already potted up my Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’. Hopefully by next summer it will gain in size to look more beautiful than it does already.

Dean

[Dave S]

Dean and Mark, thanks for letting me tag along on your conversation. The wife and I just built a home in Driftwood and are exploring bamboo as a privacy fence between our pool and the next door neighbor. Our landscapers have ID'd buddha belly initially and are now recommending Alphonse Karr. I anticipate they'll be putting in plants which are around 6' tall initially, hopefully they will end up growing to around 12' for the privacy we eventually will need.

It sure sounds like you both are fans of the Alphonse Karr, any hints prior to our next conversation with the landscape folks?

Dave

[CaroleMeckes]

Hi Dave,
I'm answering for Mark, since he is now just watching over us from another place - see thread (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2869)...

I'd say that Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' is much easier to manage than the Bambusa ventricosa (Buddha Belly). The ventricosa sends out side branches that can get in your way if it is close to a path that you frequently travel. It is also kind of "floppy" and I have had to prune off all of the lower branches at a planting at Zilker Botanical Gardens when our ventricosa was younger. Here at home, we have had to also prune it back because it is planted next to a frequent path. Here is a picture of ours taken in Sept 2007: http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/705/thumbs/BtVentAuTX070911-8991.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=5060)

You can see the yellow culms of our Alphonse Karr behind the buddha belly.

By the way - I am a bamboo bead maker and Bambusa multiplex 'Aphonse Karr' makes some incredible bamboo beads... I have not tried the Buddha Belly culms yet to see how those may be for bamboo beads...

You are close to Austin, Texas so stop at Zilker if you get a chance - here is a link to a "walking tour of the bamboo at Zilker" (http://bamboo.home.texas.net/walkingtourtog.htm). I volunteer in the bamboo groves at Zilker on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10 am - 1 pm so if you can make it on one of those days let me know. I post that info at http://www.bamboocentral.net

Carole

[Dave S]

Carole, first of all I am sorry to hear of Mark's passing. If the comments on the forum are any indication, he was much loved and an anchor of the bamboo efforts here in Central Texas.

And thanks for your info and the invitation to visit, we just might take you up on that offer. It sounds like the Alphonse Karr is the way we need to go but we plan on making a visit to the bamboo gardens to look at the different varieties prior to giving the go ahead. We did several tours flying airplanes in the Far East and developed an appreciation for the beauty of bamboo. Now I'll have to develop an appreciation...and the ability...to maintain it and encourage it to grow!

Dave

[CaroleMeckes]

Thanks Dave.

They don't have any Alphonse Karr at Zilker - so if you find yourself coming to northeast Austin and would like to see bamboo shoot me an email and we will see if we can arrange a time
Carole

[Dave S]

Thanks, Carole. We may take you up on it!

Dave and Susan