Phyllostachys nigra
improbable , dramatic , and visually telling , black bamboo ( Phyllostachys nigra ) features coal black prow adorned with pairs of slender , lance - shaped leaves of smart green with racy , clomp forming growth .
A popular choice for its immobile , plushy growth and distinct coloration , black bamboo is idealistic for creating dense hedges , graceful concealment screens , and in force sound dampers .
And it ’s a ducky for maturate in enceinte container and patio planters as well .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
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P. nigrahas a running growth habit , which can quickly become aggressive if left to circularise ungoverned . But it can be effectively managed with even root pruning and the employment of ascendent barriers .
And when arm with our best pattern crown for care , cultivation , and spread , it makes an striking addition to landscape , yards , and container gardens .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
So if your gardenscape call for this sensational , graceful grass , let ’s talk about how to maturate black bamboo !
Here ’s what I ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Where to corrupt
care
generation
Pests and Disease
Black bamboo has a tall , thin visibility with the untried culms emerging green then darken to shiny , inky Joseph Black as they mature .
They can mature up to 30 foot magniloquent but only about two to four inches in diam , forming fine-looking , gently curve thickets .
aboriginal to China , P. nigrais hardy in Zones 7 to 10 and grow from undercover rhizomes . New shoot typically issue in former springiness to early summer .
These flora are monocarpic which means they only flower once in their lifetime – typically after several decades . After flowering , the flora will die .
Common name(s):Black bamboo
industrial plant case : Running perennial forage
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):7 - 10
aboriginal to : China
blush time / season : Evergreen foliage
Exposure : Full sun to part shade
dirt type : Moist , loamy , well - draining
Soil pH:5.5 - 7.0 ( slightly acidulent to neutral )
Time to maturity:3 - 5 years
Mature sizing : Up to 30 feet tall , aggressive spread
Best utilize : Hedge , secrecy screenland , specimen , container
Taxonomy
menage : Poaceae
Subfamily : Bambusoideae
Genus : Phyllostachys
Species : Nigra
The roots have arunning rather than a clumping growth habitand the flora spreads apace into large stand .
To admit the ranging rootage , give opprobrious bamboo a location where it can spread out freely without concern of trench into other planting .
And make certain you prune the source annually to keep the aggressive spread in curb .
fledged culms are strong and flexible , utile for crafting , trellises , and garden supports .
If you ’re raw to grow members of the Bambusoideae family , check out our guide to develop bamboo .
Here ’s a tone at black bamboo tending and its preferred environment for the most robust growth .
Climate
P. nigrais fairly sturdy and suitable for cultivation in Zones 7 to 11 .
In cold regions , the plants can be cultivated in container but they ’ll require to be moved into a sheltered spot like a service department , greenhouse , or shed for winter protection .
In addition to warm temperature , they prefer a proportional humidity of 40 to 60 percent .
Light
prefer a fix that provides full to fond sunshine – at least six hours of direct temperateness make dense outgrowth with lush foliage .
Planting in a site with partial sun to light spectre can lead in jolly lanky plants and slightly dull growth .
But given their slender , elegant visibility and rampant spread , this is often a favorable feature .
Soil
P. nigraprefers soil with a rich , loamy composition that drains freely to prevent waterlogging , but appease evenly moist . A pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 is idealistic .
A planting blend of about three - quarters constituent materials to one quarter inorganic element gives these big grasses the nutrient horizontal surface and moisture retentivity they enjoy .
set forth with two parts of organic materials such as compost , rotted manure , garden territory , or worm castings .
append in one part of moisture - retentive fabric like coco coir , peat moss , or vermiculite .
Finish the blend by adding in one part of inorganic material for drainage , using the the likes of of landscape painting gumption , pea plant gravel , or stone chips .
Black bamboo enjoys moist soil but does n’t do well in consideration that become boggy or waterlogged .
Water
P. nigradoes best with regular hydration to keep the territory evenly moist , but not soggy .
Provideone to two inches of waterweekly during the growing season in the absence seizure of rainfall .
Container - raise plants typically require more frequent lacrimation than those growing in the footing .
calculate on the container size and location , potted plant may need water supply every 2nd day in desiccate condition or high-pitched heat .
A two- to three - inch summer mulch of shredded bark , chop leaves , or stubble spread over the root zone can help to keep on soil moisture and repress the absolute frequency of water applications .
Use mulch for containers and garden plants and allow the pass leafage to form its own mulch in turgid groves or thickets .
Fertilizing
AlthoughP. nigradoesn’t require fertilizing when plant in humusy , nutritive - rich dirt , they do savor regular feeds during the growing season to promote firm growth and thick , lush leaf .
In tardy wintertime , mildly work in a two - column inch top fertilization of compost , rotted manure , or worm castings to add nutrients and tilth .
Work it cautiously into the grime over the solution zona with a hand crotch .
As before long as new growth emerges in former spring , start in some dim release fertilizer granules and iterate again in early summer .
For best results , apply a formula that ’s high in atomic number 7 – many lawn fertilizers are suited bring home the bacon they do n’t have weed - killing component included .
Down to Earth Bio - Turf is formulate for lawn with an NPK of 8 - 3 - 5 and works well forP. nigra .
Down to Earth Bio - Turf
you’re able to find Down to Earth Bio - Turfavailable at Arbico Organics .
Containers
If you do n’t have the space for a large stand of circularise bamboo , growing in container is an fantabulous pick to savor the plant without the maintenance involved to keep the roots in arrest .
Keep in mind that container plants typically need to be watered more frequently than those in ground .
Plants will need to be repotted every three to five years , reckon on the size of the container .
Our templet to growing bamboo in containershas all the information you need .
Black bamboo can be purchased at most well - stocked garden center . There are a phone number ofP. nigracultivars with different colored culms .
Black Bamboo
If you need the classic ignominious bamboo , you could find plantsavailable at Fast Growing Trees .
Here are a couple of cultivar you may hail across :
Bory
Also known as Panthera tigris or leopard bamboo , this cultivar features green culm that uprise irregular glum brown or black blotches as they get on .
Henon
‘ Henon ’ is also have it away as elephantine gray bamboo , with green culm that maturate to a milky - grey chromaticity .
Pruning is efficient for keeping stands healthy and to manage their sizing and paste .
Clean and prune stands in belated winter to early natural spring , removing dead , damaged , or pathologic culms at the soil line using clean , sharp garden shear or a pruning power saw .
To make an airier visual aspect and improve air circulation , select mature culm and dispatch them at the grunge surface , using a light touch to thin stands .
Start by removing only a few straw , then take several steps back to see the braggart picture . Repeat as needed until the desired density is accomplish .
To regulate the height of culms , expend light sharp pruning shears or extension service lopper to top them , making a aslant cut just above a set of leaves or leaf nodes .
Root Pruning
Now permit ’s look at root pruning , an important maintenance task to command the spread of the rootstalk .
Black bamboo varieties spread rapidly with their running rhizomes , quickly colonise any usable blank .
The most effective way to manage their spread is with a compounding of annual root pruning along with the use of theme barrier . Here ’s how :
Root barrier are typically made of high-pitched compactness polythene ( HDPE ) and come in roll of varying depth – for bamboo , it ’s wise to go with a abstruse selection .
This 50 - human foot pealing from Bamboo Shield is 24 inches wide-cut and made in the USA .
Bamboo Shield Root Barrier
you could witness itavailable via Amazon .
With its vigorous spreading growth , the best manner to spread ignominious bamboo is by naval division .
This should be done in belated winter to early leaping , just after new development go forth but before it really take off . Autumn is a desirable alternative .
Learn how to divide and transplant bamboo here .
Generally , black bamboo is an comfortable - care , vigorous plant that is unafraid by pests or disease .
However , common garden pest likeaphids , bamboo spider mites , orscalemay make an appearance .
In unsuitable , boggy condition solution bunk can take hold .
Tall, Dark, and Dramatic
With an refined form , unique colouring , and fast growth , black bamboo is a preferent for quick evolve little brush or big stand that are stark for privacy , racket buffering , or just adding a tropic touch to your thousand or garden !
Plant in full to partial sun in moist , humus rich soil then bung and pee regularly for lush emergence .
To keep their vigorous spread in balk , plant in turgid container or prune the roots p.a. and use beginning barriers to oversee how far the rootstalk can range .
You ’ll eff how cursorily these easy tutelage plants transform your grand with their tall , dark , dramatic silhouette !
And for more information aboutgrowing elegant grasses in your landscape , add these templet to you reading list next :
exposure by Lorna Kring © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product exposure via Arbico Organics and Fast Growing Trees . Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock .
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