Cold Hardy Q

[marine03314]

Bamboo plants with cold hardy rating shows the minimal temp that bamboo will survive. Is that the ground temp? I ask because a culm 30ft up could have a windchill with a lower temp.

Thanks.

[bambookid524]

Whatever it says it is hardy to is from the ground. So say it says a plant is hardy to -20 f. That means at full height in the ground it will survive to that temp. That doesnt always include windchill though which makes it hard to judge.

[sasa fool]

Bamboo cold tolerance temperature 'ratings' - which are almost always overstated - usually refer to the temperature at which the leaves will begin to sustain damage with brief exposure to the listed temp. That is sort of the industry standard but are rarely accurate in my experience. There are many factors other than how low the temps go, that figure into winter damage.

[Dean W.]

Bamboo cold tolerance temperature 'ratings' - which are almost always overstated - usually refer to the temperature at which the leaves will begin to sustain damage with brief exposure to the listed temp. That is sort of the industry standard but are rarely accurate in my experience. There are many factors other than how low the temps go, that figure into winter damage.


I agree with, Brad. It all depends on what you want to plant. If you "push the envelope" too much it may freeze to the ground. :eek: What are you thinking of planting?

Dean

[Cratylus]

I am VERY interested in starting to grow bamboo on my own but there is a couple of small problems. I don't have a green house or even a real garden. Also I live in Beulah, Colorado which is way up in the mountains. I found out that I am in a Zone 4, more the Zone 4a then the Zone 4b for winter weather. I want to know which would be the best bamboo to grow in this area. I know that I can't do the clump, so I wanted to do the running. I have 5 acres of land and would like to convert part of my property to just growing bamboo. It is near a running creek that runs year round so I don't have a problem with water or anything like that and the land around the creek isn't too wet either. Any suggestion on which bamboo species would be the best. I was interested in the black bamboo, I was curious if that would do well. I have a lot of art and craft projects in mind for the bamboo. OF course the huge plus is the bamboo looks great and creates a peacefull atmosphere I think.

I want to get started ASAP and am welling to spend the winter growing the shoots in my house to start with and then transplanting them early spring. Please help I need any and ALL info.

[CaroleMeckes]

Hello and "welculm" to the Bamboo Forums.

Phyllostachys nuda (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=511) is one of the most cold tolerant of the running bamboos.

You'd be better off getting some plants to transplant into the ground before the winter sets in - or wait till the spring time.

Carole

[Cratylus]

Thank you for the info. Do you happen to know the best places to buy some of the Phyllostachys nuda? I looked at some of my local garden stores and can't find anything in them. The only bamboo they have if the floors and ornaments.

Also what is the main difference between the Phyllostachys nuda and the Phyllostachys negra? Some of the pictures of the nuda look like they are also black is that right, because I am really super interested in the black bamboo.

[CaroleMeckes]

The Phyllostachys nigra (black bamboo) is only tolerant down to zero degrees F. The picture of the nuda shoots might look black http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Mvc-081f.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=567) but it is only because they are new shoots.

The new shoots of the P nigra stay green for most of their first year and then change to black.

Are you anywhere near Mosca, Colorado? There is a gator farm there that also grows bamboo - otherwise I would recommend you check on the American Bamboo Society Source (http://www.americanbamboo.org/SpeciesSourceList.html) list for bamboo plant sources.

[Cratylus]

I have been going through that website little by little learning as much as I can from it. I have a few more questions.

I really like the Phyllostachys nuda, after looking at pictures of it on this website.

1 Is the cold rating for this bamboo is amazing, but does that include snows, even sometimes heavy snows?

2 Is sometimes I have floods on my property through my creeks, do you think this bamboo would be ok as long as it is planted farther away from my creeks?

3 Is this is considering a running bamboo right? How much time do you think it would take to cover 1 acre?

4 Is the Phyllostachys nuda a good bamboo for arts and crafts? I read on the other website that it is the stone bamboo and good for furniture projects. Would it also be good for chimes and things like that you think?

Sorry all I have is questions but I am really excited and want to get into this as fast as possible with the best results. Thank you for all of the awesome info and your time.
Joseph

[CaroleMeckes]

stone bamboo is Phyllostachys angusta
(from the American Bamboo Society Source List)
Phyllostachys angusta is called Stone Bamboo because of the hard texture of its culms which in China were used to make fine bamboo furniture.

Here's a link to a thread that may answer some of your questions about cold hardy bamboo:
http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1103