living in NW arkansas and have some questions

[bok73]

I am new to this site. I am currently living in Northwest Arkansas and want to know if bamboo can grow here. It gets kind of cold, it does freeze a couple of times a year. What types of bamboo can I plant? I want to grow something somewhat tall around my fence line.

[R e x]

Hi there bok73. Welcome to the forums! Do you know what USDA zone you're in? If not, you can find it easily here using your zip code:
http://http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/#deter

I'm not familiar with the weather in Arkansas. What kind of bamboo characteristics are you looking for?
• Spreading or staying in one clump?
• Fat or skinny culms?
• Culm color?
• Culm durability?
• Fast or slow growth?

[bok73]

I am in Zone 6 the coldest it gets is -5. I want would like anything ranging from 1-2" fast growing, tall and would like it to have a good rich green color, with a hint of yellows. I would like it to reach a good height to break some of the wind as well. I hope this is not too picky. I use to have some black bamboo and some bamboo that was about 3" thick and over 20' tall. I do not want to introduce something that be too invasive but I do want it to spread. Will cows eat it? I have lots more questions but I will start with those.

[R e x]

I'd have to say that Phyllostachys aureosulcata (common name: yellow groove bamboo) falls well under the criteria you gave me. It is a running bamboo that grows to about 18 feet in zone 6 and will have 2" culm diameters (it gets to be 3" and 40' tall in zone 7). This species has green colored culms with yellow stripes!...although I'm not entirely sure if that's what you meant by "hint of yellows".

Phyllostachys bissetii is also a great choice for you. Like aureosulcata, it will get to be about 18 feet tall in zone 6. Bissetii is usually used for windbreaks and privacy screens because it's a quick and vigorous grower. If exposed to full sun, some of the green culms may turn into a shade of yellow.





If you want to be a little more daring and like larger bamboo, like me :p, go for Vivax! It's big culms can get up to 5 inches in diameter and I think it can grow to 30 feet in zone 6. It sizes up at an incredibly fast pace. Vivax culms can be used for crafts and its shoots are completely edible.

A more majestic choice would be Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon'! Henon is actually thought to be where 'black bamboo' came from. It's giant culms are about 3~4 inches in diameter and this species can grow to 40' in zone 6!! It's culms will eventually turn from green to a nice sleek ghostly gray color. It grows rapidly to maturity, meaning it'll start shooting up big culms faster.

[bok73]

How do I go about finding these kinds of bamboo? Can I buy seeds or find something on line? I do not want to sound ignorant but wha exactly is a "clum"? Is there a special way to prepar the soil? These do sound perfect for what I am looking for. Do they grow close together?


Thanks for your help so far. This bamboo forum has been very informative. Are there other gardening web sites like these?

thanks
Tim

[R e x]

Hi again. The culms are actually the stalks of the bamboo (the things that stick up vertically from the ground).

I think the following are some reliable places online that sell bamboo:

http://www.lewisbamboo.com/cold-hardy-bamboo.html

http://www.bamboogarden.com/default.htm

http://www.jmbamboo.com/screen_fence_bamboo.php

You also might have bamboo nurseries somewhere around you. You would want to check those out.

Bamboo that grows close together is usually of the 'clumping' habit, which doesn't spread very far apart at all. I think if you stick with a bamboo that people usually use for fences/privacy screens, you wont be disappointed.

Soil type really depends on your area. I'm not sure what kind of soil you have but most bamboo prefer loose, slightly-acidic soil with lots of nutritional organic material in it.

As for growing from seed, it's something that's very fun to do, but if you need your privacy screen faster, I wouldn't recommend it. Bamboo seeds are actually rare because bamboo rarely flowers & seeds, and when it does, the whole plant usually dies. I'm growing Moso bamboo from seed, you can see my journal (with pictures :)) on this part of the forum here:
http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3280
Might not suit your tastes though because Moso can grow to 80 feet :P.

By the way..
I don't think the cows will eat your bamboo..
It might be a possibility that they will try to eat the shoots, because they are tasty!

[bambookid524]

Bambooplantation.com is another good source for buying bamboo.

[CaroleMeckes]

Don't forget needmorebamboo.com for cold hard bamboo. (located in Indiana)

Brad has made many informative posts here at this forum.

Carole

[bambookid524]

Don't forget needmorebamboo.com for cold hard bamboo. (located in Indiana)

Brad has made many informative posts here at this forum.

Carole



Oooo yes, that's a good one! Lots of the cold hardy boos.
Very helpful and informative!

[bok73]

thanks all I will keep you posted

t