Phyllostachys vivax

Phyllostachys vivax, Chinese Timber Bamboo is the hardiest of the large timber bamboos and is largest-growing bamboo that can be grown outdoors in the UK. It a tall robust and vigorous-growing bamboo with a running habit and should only be grown in a large open outdoor space or strong steel containers. It has thick green culms that in an ideal warm and sheltered aspect will achieve monumental and impressive architectural size. The foliage is deep green and lush and cascading and where space permits Phyllostachys vivax creates an unparalleled tropical display with an enormous grove of strong culms. It should never be grown in open ground in an urban or suburban context or in any aspect that is close to masonary or drains. A useful way to keep large running bamboos like Phyllostachys vivax in check when grown in an appropriate large space is to plant it on a raised bed with a trench dug around the entire desired space so that as the surface-travellling rhizomes reach the trench they can be root-pruned at the end of each growing season. The thick culm shoots emerging in spring are edible and it is widely cultivated in China for this.

The culm sheaths are particularly beautiful and often densly mottled with brown over a yellowish-green or pale brownish-yellow base sometimes tinged with purple.

These are sold as large growing rhizomes, wrapped in moist paper.