Scientific Name:
Phyllostachys aurea
Pronunciation:
fill-oh-STAY-kus ORE-ee-uh
Common Name:
gold stem bamboo, golden bamboo
Family Name:
Poaceae
Plant Type:
Bamboo, Poales (grass-like)
Key ID Features:
Clump forming bamboo with culms emerging in spring and soon dropping their sheaths to expose green internodes that turn golden yellow with flat groove on one side of similar colour, some internodes near at base of culm are typically shortened, nodes 2-ridged with often fewer than three branches attached; leaves upright, most <8cm long.
Habit:
Arching, Spreading, Stiffly upright, Twiggy
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
7 - 10m
Mature Spread:
5 - 7m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
S.E. Asia / Japan / China (eastern China)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Container planting, Filler, Group or mass planting, Hedge row, Screening, Specimen plant, Tall background, Wind break, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. A detailed species description can be found at eFloras.org. Compare to P. edulis (much larger and thicker stemmed).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Colour in Summer:
Green-yellow
Colour in Fall:
Green-yellow
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Cuneate, Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Spikelet, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Purple, Brown
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
May
Additional Info:
Takes 16-19 years to flower
Fruit Type:
Grain (caryopsis)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Jul, Aug
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark Morphology:
Showy, Smooth, Multi-stem trunk
Bark or Stem Colour:
Yellow
Organ Modifications:
Fleshy monocot roots, Rhizomes
Propagation:
Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Mites, Rust, Slugs or snails (Deer resistant)
