| Scientific Name: | Phyllostachys nigra |
| Common Name: | blackstem bamboo |
| Family Name: | Poaceae |
| Origin: | S.E. Asia / Japan / China |
| Hardiness Zone: | Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C) |
| Plant Type: | Bamboo, Poales (grass-like) |
| Mature Size: | 7 - 10m x 5 - 7m (height x width) |
| Habit: | Arching, Dense, Spreading, Stiffly upright, Twiggy |
| Form: | Oval - vertical |
| Texture: | Medium - fine |
| Landscape Uses: | Accent plant, Container planting, Cut flower or foliage, Filler, Group or mass planting, Hedge row, Mixed shrub border, Screening, Specimen plant, Summer interest, Tall background, Woodland margin |
| Exposure: | Full sun, Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade |
| Soil or Media: | Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained |
| Leaves: | Simple, Alternate, Soft flexible, Glabrous, Lanceolate, Entire |
| Flowers: | Spikelet, Brown, May |
| Fruit: | Grain (caryopsis), Brown, Jul-Aug |
| Key ID Features: | |
| Initially lump forming but then spreading after a few years; culms 4-8(-10)m tall x 2-5cm wide with internodes 25-30cm long, green or gradually developing purple-brown to black spots or turning uniform purple-brown or black, round with flat groove on one side, nodes 2-ridged; leaves upright, lanceolate, most 7-10cm long x ~1.2cm wide, thin, dark green, feathery. | |