Clumping Bamboo in the Landscape Market

Located in Alstonville, Northern NSW.

We supply the retail and landscape market. Running vs Clumping Bamboo Running Bamboo Acceptance as a Mainstream Plant 20 years ago • Grown by few collectors • Mostly running species available, Phyllostachys aurea/nigra 10 years ago • Garden centres showing interest • Burkes backyard + magazine articles Now

• A few growers in every state • Suppliers in most major population areas • Available in most major garden centres Major Genus Types

• Bambusa • Dendrocalamus • Gigantochloa • Schizostachyum • Others Analysis as a Landscaping Plant

Benefits Limitations •Fast growing •Requires area •Self mulching •Self mulching •Effective screening •Seasonal •Variation - structural •Foliage damages to soft easily in dry •Maintainable •Indoor / Aircon •Erosion control •Attractive in a modern/Asian usage Design Information Growth Rate

• Full height in 2 to 3 years. • Increase density over time • Culms do not grow radially like normal plant - emerge as shoot at final diameter

Recent customer • Malay dwarf variegated • 200mm pots • 12 months

Plant Height

• Full height can be achieved in 2 to 3 years • Many published label heights are misleading, often larger than stated. • Height can vary almost 100% depending upon environmental factors • Moisture & Humidity = taller • Canopy = taller • Full open sun = shorter Clump Widths

• Basal diameter = species, age & environment. • Grow radially from young plant. • Culm spacing = rhizome length = diameter indicator • Rate of diameter increase slows over time. • 1 to 2m typical for ‘normal’ garden variety over 10 years.

Considerations in Public Areas.

• Itchy culm leaf hairs (some species) • Vandalism - larger poles • Leaf drop

Foliage Companion Plants

• Grow well with deep rooted plants eg. gums etc. • Take surface water with root mat, leaving other plants dry. • Smother close ground plants with leaf mulch. eg. cycads, rhoeo, small grasses are buried. • Will keep grass back from clump after 2 years.

Water • Water is important for growth in spring / summer. Growth contributors are 80% water, 20% humidity, fertiliser, soil etc. • Water is required to extend shoots. • Clumps will survive in flood BUT can ultimately be drowned if roots rot. Better wet but drained, especially if dormant in winter. • Once fully grown, water is less critical. • Water stress is indicated by rolling/folding leaves, closely followed by leaf tip damage and defoliation. Seasonal Cycle

• Dormant from Autumn to early spring. Night temperatures < 10 DegC • Feeder root & foliage growth in first 3 to 4 months. • Shoot season for the remaining. Active vigorous growth. Transplanting

• Physically easy to remove. • Dehydration after removal the main issue. • Foliage and culm dieback • Can effect the form of the plant. • Starting from a smaller bag if often a nicer effect given the growth rate. Maintenance

• Pole thinning • Hedge, topiary or topping • Shoot removal • Tying back • Branch trimming Pest & Disease

• Most problems are in the confined environment of a production nursery. • Scale - selected species • Mealy bug - selected species • Spider mite - selected species • Grasshoppers • Fungal leaf spotting Common Problems

• 30% Poor plant species selection • 25% Poor plant spacing/location • 30% Insufficient water • 5% Pest/Disease • 5% Neighbour poison • 5% Other Shapes and Sizes

There is a huge variation in shape and size in clumping bamboo from 2m fine soft cascade plants to 30m structural timber.

Small Mountain Bamboos

Himalayan weeping bamboo Nepalese blue Purple Jade

Typically 3 to 4m, weeping habit, soft folliage, cold tolerant

Screening

• 2-4m Malay Dwarf Variegated • 6-7m Gracilis • 7-9m Striped weavers • 10-14m Oldhamii

Slender Weavers Bamboo (Bambusa textilis gracilis) • 6-8m • Cold tolerant (- 12DegC) • Hardy • Vertical • Tight form • Maintainable • 2m spacing Oldhamii • 10-14m • Rural windbreaks Feature - Medium

• 7 to 10m range • Green Ghost Bamboo • Burmese stripe

Feature - Large

• Height 12m - 20m • Structural vertical features • Folliage often at higher levels Java black Timor Black Hitam Canopy & Forest Floor

• Low maintenance areas • Self mulching • Grid spacings 6-12m