The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Try dramatic black bamboo in your garden
The ebony stems of black bamboo are the perfect accent for that Asian-inspired garden you’ve dreamed of. This amazingly architectural plant bears all black canes that contrast with the bright green foliage. Dramatic day and night against the planes of modern architecture and colored walls, it’s time we rediscover Phyllostachys nigra for transform-
ing spaces.
Black bamboo is not trop- ical. It’s a temperate species cold hardy to zones 7-8. There can be significant frost damage at 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Black b a mboo does not need to be invasive if you treat it properly. Over the last few decades, folks have experimented with various bamboo root control devices to keep the clump tidy and architectural. Planting your 5-gallon nursery pot with the bamboo st illinsideprovides a poor man’s root guard that prevents horizontal root growth.
Phyllostachys nigramakes an outstanding container plant, particularly when grown in large Asian style pots. Landscape pots can create a beautiful plant out- doors when placed in beds or on patio, eliminating the potential for invasiveness altogether. Pots also raise the bamboo up higher to put those gorgeous ebony stems right at eye level. Make sure the pot has a wide mouth to allow planting a big specimen for instant results and to make watering easer .P ots allow you to bring your Asian interior decor out on a balcony, rooftop or anywhere else that is in full sun.
The real key to creating a great nigra specimen is how you shape your plant. At the nursery they are big and
bush y for use as screening material. In Asia the bamboo is trimmed to reveal the lower half of the canes
w ith fol i age l eft on top. At intervals on the canes they’ll leave a few twigs and leaves to create just the right balance. This is pruning that anyone can do to turn that black bamboo bush into your own personal sculpture.
The bamboo produces new shoots from culms, which rise from the root. This is the reason why bam- boo prefers a wide mouth pot so there’s lots of room to send up new stems from underground. When young and green, the shoots are edible and enjoyed in Asian homes. The intact culms actually telescope as they grow into longer and lon- ger segments. Once mature, the green cane itself darkens with solar exposure to finally reach its ebony hue up to two years later. Over time, cycle out the oldest canes before they lose their color to bring indoors for accent arrangements, crafts or for staking tropicals. Bamboo is a grass, which means it likes the same stuff as your lawn: water and nitrogen. Until the plants are older, there’s no need to add fertilizer. To slow growth keep plants on the drier side; for faster growth provide even moisture. Avoid wetting the black stems if you have hard water to prevent residue.
Phyllostachys nigra is widely available at garden centers, home improvement
stores an d online. Plan to special order yours for the optimal specimen and root ball to fit into the big pot you love.
Bamboo is able to bend with storm winds without breaking, only to stand straight again when it’s over. This has made it an important Asian symbol for bouncing back after the storms of life. There is no better plant to signal your change of life, mind and spirit in your outdoor spaces, gardens and landscapes.