PlantFiles: Black Bamboo
Phyllostachys nigra

I started this plant in the fall of 2007 after getting a great deal at the fall clearance sells (75% off Whoot!). Anyway, I was very skeptical about its survival in Z5a but I fell in love with it and wanted to give it a shot. I placed it in a retaining wall bed outside my living room window for a nice view. The leaves and canes actually stayed green all that winter, but it was a pretty mild winter. The following spring I only got about 3-4 new small canes. Then this last winter was very dry and very cold. It was below 10F for more than 2 weeks at one point and I was sure it had choked as all the canes died back and lost their leaves. However, after several weeks of nice warm weather and a good soaking, I found at least 6 new shoots starting. Oh, and I found 3 roots that had surfaced and gone back down... I think it's trying to find an exit... Hehe

I'm happy that it seems to have survived the worst that Colorado has to offer, but I have yet to see if it will actually "thrive" under these conditions. It certainly breaks my Xeriscape mindedness as it seems to ravenously consume all the moisture from the soil. Fortunately it's close to the outdoor spicket so I compensate by setting the hose next to it to drain after each use.

I have grown this plant for over 11 years in Louisville Ky. Many Phyllostachys are very undemanding and can be a great accent plants. However... the runners of Nigra plants can travel under the surface for up to eight feet before coming up with multiple large canes. I love these plants, but barriers are a good idea. Pruning does dull felco pruners fairly quickly (not unlike to boxwood and dogwood trees).
Great container plants!

Interesting bamboo with shoots that start out green, then age to a nice, dark ebony black with age. It is a runner (not a clumper) but hasn't been a problem in my garden. The shoots that volunteered about six feet from the original plant in a more shady location are actually taller and seem healthier than those that are growing in mostly sun where I situated the parent plant. This bamboo seems to be one that is sought after (costing as much as $150 from some catalogs!), but the volunteer plants from runners are generally easy to dig and pot up for trade or sell.

Jeremy

good grower here

Spreads like a California wildfire here in extreme southern Illinois(USDA zone 7a). There are many area's throughout this region, where Phyllostchys nigra can be seen. The bamboo of course remains green year around! Also adds a tropical look to any home or business.

Growing Black Bamboo also in a pot in the UK, I have been feeding phostrogen weekly and have seen lately curns from nothing to 8 feet in 6 weeks, and not a big pot iether! Should I continue to feed or let it take a breather.

Good plant for pots and seems to tolerate growing in an area with more shade than sun . Growing in a pot means more care must be taken to avoid the plant drying out , however living in England ( UK) its not always a big concern ! No real experience of very cold weather so haven't tested hardiness .
Great plant to view .

I don't know much about it but I know it grows in zone 7 Maryland and Washington D.C.

The National Zoo in DC has this bamboo growing in sections all over the grounds, particularily close to the Giant Panda exhibit. It's very attractive and lends the area an lush exotic look.

I've also observed plantings of black bamboo growing at the side of the road alongside the woodsline and in ditches in my hometown. They come back every year and look great and don't seem to be invasive here because they only fill out the area in which they grow and don't spread.

A lovely plant and a good addition to any garden.
I have a little problem w/ the zone restrictions though.

I'm in Zone 6, have had it out for two Winters now and it's doing fine.
Some winter die-back for sure but still thriving.
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June 2009

We're 7 years in now w/ this lovely plant.
No winter protection.
There is a large stand of 'Yellow Groove' to it's west side and a solid barrier wood fence on the north and east.
We did get some breakage during a massive wind storm.
Digging up some now to containerize for the patio.
Heights about 18'. Cane max size 1.25" at the base.

I will repeat that note about not liking the wind... our culms would start growing laterally if the wind came up before a green culm started to turn black (once black they seem to have more stability- better root stock?). Once the culm got larger, this was less of a problem. Great bamboo for pots, too, by the way. Without a rhizome barrier, sometimes this would end up 15' or more from the clump... fortunately at edge of yard and neighbor likes the plant.

Beautiful, unique and easy to grow.
Likes good drainage, Water well, (every other day, daily in hotter zones) and mulch heavily. Let it dry out a little bit between watering.
Mulch and compost every year.
It does not like wind, we transplanted a very tall patch of it and had to stake it securely for a couple of months until it settled in.