Bambusa chungii

[Eric in Orlando]

This is Bambusa chungii, Tropical Blue Bamboo. The culms are covered in a bluish powder. It can grow to about 30ft with 2" diameter canes.

[Peter]

Nice Eric!  I'm trying this one here in Inland Socal-it's supposed to be quite hardy.  So far so good; I planted out a 5g in the spring and it's already sent up 3 new culms, which look like they'll get to about 20'.

[Jeff Searle]

Eric,

    Beautiful, I also have a clump in the yard and it always seems to draw the most attention when we have visitors. It's good to see that it grows that far north. Thanks.....

Jeff

[Walter John]

I almost purchased Bambusa chungii yesterday, but went for Dendrocalamus minor var 'Amoenus' "Ghost bamboo" instead. I think they are similar, anybody growing both ?

[doubravsky]

I've got a Chungii in inland so-cal. It took last winter's cold with no real problems. Seems to be really hardy.

[osideterry]

From the photo it looks like it grows nice and straight, as big plus compared to some bambusa that wants to arch heavily.

[freekypalmguy]

Very nice looking bamboo Eric.

Anywhere in SoCal to pick one up?

[osideterry]

Matt - My source for Bamboo (and I know he has B. chungii) is Pura Vida Tropicals, aka. Bob DiMattia, aka Bamboo Bob. He's in Vista. Very reasonable and great to work with. It's worth going to his house/nursery to see all his plants.

Here's his phone number

Phone: 760-726-4038 Cell: 760-519-0397

[Eric in Orlando]

B. chungii is great as it gets to 30ft so it is not a giant but still some size. despite being called"tropical" it is supposedly hardy to 21-22F, same as B. oldhamii.

[Peter]

Good news Dave-how does it look in winter-any yellowing?

[freekypalmguy]

(osideterry @ Oct. 21 2007,15:51)

QUOTE

Matt - My source for Bamboo (and I know he has B. chungii) is Pura Vida Tropicals, aka. Bob DiMattia, aka Bamboo Bob. He's in Vista. Very reasonable and great to work with. It's worth going to his house/nursery to see all his plants.

Here's his phone number

Phone: 760-726-4038 Cell: 760-519-0397

Sweet Terry, thank you for the hook-up. Vista seams like the hot spot for a boat load of different plants.

Thank you again,

Matt

[richtrav]

River's End Nursery in Bayview TX has both chungii and Dendrocalamus minor amoenus in their bamboo field and they do look similar. I'd say their minor amoenus is overall the prettier plant but if you're just going for the look of the powdery culms chungii may have an edge. Both are outstanding ornamental plants.

Eric, how confident are you about the hardiness of chungii? I thought I read somewhere that it wasn't quite as hardy as some people had made it out to be (but still way hardier than the black bamboo types).

[Eric in Orlando]

I'm not sure. I'm just going by what the bamboo society has on the species list table.

[doubravsky]

Matt...

There's also a guy in Chino Hills, Jim Rehor. His place is filled with lots of different species. I've purchased several varieties from him, although the Chungii I got from Bamboo Bob on a trip down to Vista.

Here's his email....

Jim Rehor [jimrehor1946@msn.com]

[heliconias]

I'm growing both Chungii and Ghost Bamboo here in Melbourne Beach.

They do look similar- however, ghost is a bit more whiteish yellow-green with some striping, while Chungii has a powdery darker color.

My experience has been that Ghost grows very quickly- it is 2-3x the size of my Chungii clumps and they were all put in at the same time at the same size.

The Chungii is starting to pick up steam now, but wow that Ghost bamboo really moves.. it would be great for a windbreak.

Both are pretty upright, and I'm sure both will get quite big. The clump of Chungii at Mckee Gardens is pretty good sized- about 6'+ in diam

Here is my Ghost clump:

[Creekside]

I also grow (and sell at our nursery) both D. minor Amoenus and B. chungii (and chungii Barbellata.)  I like Barbellata a bit better than "regular" chungii - it looks very similar but is about 2/3 the height and culm diameter.  Many homeowners want smaller bamboos for the sake of space to put them.  Although my Barbellatas haven't seen a frost yet (protected microclimate,) they look just as pretty in January as in July, and are quite vigorous.  Plant one and stand back!

[ariscott]

I like them... I am sure I can fit them in somewhere  ::  Thanks everyone for the photos!!

Regards, Ari

[edleigh7]

G'day everyone, I'm new here.

Jeff I am growing B. chungii and "Ghost bamboo" together along a fence line. In between those 2 I have "Timor Black". It should be an interesting array of colours, hopefully. The chungii and the Ghost are producing new culms, especially the Ghost, but none from the Timor Black yet. I'm sure it will catch up

Good to be on here, very informative

BTW I am in Brisbane QLD, I'll fix my signature

[Al in Kona]

What size will the Tmor black get to be?  Is it a real black color to the culms?  Anyone have a pic of one.  

I'd like to have a small to medium upright grower that has very black culms.  Can anyone give me some recommendations or advise as to what varieties to look for?

[Peter]

Al, here is B. lako growing at the LA Arboretum.  It took a big hit this past winter, but is rebounding pretty well.  These photos were taken last year before the big freeze: