Bamboo Descriptions

There are over 1200 types of bamboo in the world. Bamboo is fast growing and belongs to the grass family. This plant is very versatile, and is ideal for gardens, screens, hedges, timber, erosion control and a good food source. There is a bamboo for just about every purpose. They can range in size from groundcovers under 6 inches to over 70 feet tall. Bamboo is very beautiful and has adapted itself to many different locations and climates. We can help you find the right bamboo for your location and needs.

Viewcrest started growing bamboo 10 years ago because of its unique characteristics and increasing interest. We have five established mother blocks which are set up on drip irrigation and will be adding more in the future. Our potted bamboo range in size from 1 gallon to 10 gallon. We are planning on adding larger sizes in the future.

We do not take orders over the internet. Please call or fax your order.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo)
Hardiness: 0 F
Typical Height: 15-20 feet
Typical Diameter: Up to 1.5 inches
Grows rigidly upright and is one of the strongest and most useful bamboos. Good for hedges and along driveways and paths. Culm color is green, but often turns yellow in direct sunlight and can have distorted nodes at the base.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow Groove)
Hardiness: -15 F
Typical Height: Up to 26 feet
Typical Diameter: Up to 1.5 inches
This is one of the hardiest bamboos and also grows rigidly upright. It has a yellow stripe on a green culm and often has rigid kinks near the base. Good along driveways and paths.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata alata (Crookstem Bamboo)
Hardiness: -10 F
Maximum Height: 30 feet
Diameter: 2 inches
This is the green form of Yellow Groove Bamboo. It has bends at the base of the culms, giving this plant its common name.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata spectabilis
Hardiness: -10 F
Typical Height: 23 - 26 feet
Diameter: 1-1.5 inches
Best looking color if grown in full sun. This is the opposite form of Phyllostachys aureosulcata. Spectabilis has yellow culms with a green sulcas. In the spring the sun exposed culms and edible new shoots have a bright red flush. Wind tolerant. Excellent for containers.

Pyllostachys bambusoides (Madake or Japanese Timber Bamboo)
Hardiness: 0 F
Height: Up to 72 feet
Diameter: Up to 6 inches
One of the strongest temperate timber bamboos with large, straight thick-walled culms. Stands up better than most bamboo in the snow. One of the latest to shoot.

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillonis'
Hardiness: 5 F
Height: 35 feet
Diameter: Up to 2 inches
This bamboo flowered in the 1960s and all plants in the United States and Europe perished. Seeds were saved in Germany and propagated and introduced back into the United States by The ABS. Still somewhat rare. This bamboo is one of the most beautiful.

Phyllostachys bissetti (Bissetti)
Hardiness: -15 F
Typical Height: 23 feet
Typical Diameter: 1 inch
One of the first bamboos to shoot in the spring with greener leaves and culms than aurea. Very hardy with strong culms and a dense canopy. Fast to establish and makes an excellent hedge or windbreak.

Phyllostachys meyeri (Meyer Bamboo)
Hardiness: 0 F
Typical Height: 33 feet
Typical Diameter: 2 inch
Full sun. Culms turn green to tawny gold. Makes excellent canes. Well suited for the Northwest.

Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo)
Hardiness: 0 F
Typical Height: 20-30 feet
Typical Diameter: Up to 2 inches
Beautiful bamboo with shiny black culms and delicate leaves. New culms emerge green and turn black in a couple of years.

Phyllostachys nigra 'Bory '
Hardiness: 0 F
Maximum Height: 50 feet
Maximum Diameter: 3 inches
Full sun. Larger variety of Black Bamboo which develops mahogony mottling on culms. Works well for teahouse rafters, utensils and flutes.

Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon'
Hardiness: 0 F
Maximum Height: 50 feet
Maximum Diameter: 3.5 inches
One of the largest bamboos in the Pacific Northwest, with stronger wood than vivax. Has great tasting shoots.

Pyllostachys nuda (Nude Sheath or Timber Bamboo)
Hardiness: -20 F
Typical Height: 20 to 34 feet
Typical Diameter: 1.75 inches
One of the most hardy running bamboos. New culms are a dark bluish-green with powdery white rings at the nodes. Produces tasty shoots early. Easy to grow and ideal for hedges.

Phyllostachys rubromarginata (Rubro)
Hardiness: -5 F
Maximum Height: 55 feet
Typical Diameter: 2.75 inches
Plant is wind resistant and very strong. Splits well for excellent wood. Produces good quality shoots and has large leaves. Works well for a third story screen.

Phyllostachys vivax
Hardiness: -5 F
Maximum Height: 70 feet
Maximum Diameter: 5 inches
One of the hardiest timber bamboos. Fast to establish with striking good looks. Some of the best eating shoots.

Pleioblastus distichus (Dwarf Bamboo)
Height: 2 feet
Hardiness: 10 F
A good groundcover or container plant.

Pleioblastus pumilis
Typical Height: 3 to 4 feet
Hardiness: -10 F
Dwarf running bamboo with mahogony culms. Drought tolerant and hardy. Full sun.

Pleioblastus pygmaeus (Pygmy Bamboo)
Height: 1 feet
Hardiness: 10 F
One of the smallest bamboos, looks best when sheared before new spring growth. Very mite resistant because of hairy undersides of leaves.

Pleioblastus shibuyanus 'Tsuboi'
Typical Height: 6 feet
Hardiness: 0 F
A mounding dwarf with variegated leaves and interesting blending from white to green. Prefers partial shade.

Pleioblastus variegatus (Dwarf Whitestripe Bamboo)
Height: 4 feet
Hardiness: -10 F
Bold white on green variegated leaves. Tends to keep variegation all year.

Pleioblastus viridi-striatus (Dwarf Greenstripe)
Hardiness: -5 F
Typical Height: 3 feet
Typical Diameter: .25 inch
Golden Yellow leaves with green striping. Shear to ground before spring for a flush of brilliant color. Good container plant. Prefers shade to do best.

Pseudosasa japonica (Japanese Arrow Bamboo)
Maximum Height: 18 feet
Hardiness: 0 F
Grows well indoors or out. Good for screen or in tubs. Leaves can grow to 13" long.

Sasa palmata
Height: 2-10 feet
Hardiness:5 F
Leaves are 2-4 inches wide and can grow to 14 inches long. Grows well under trees.

Sasaella Masumeana albostriata (Fuiri - Shiyazasa)
Typical Height: 6 feet
Typical Diameter: 1/4 inch
Hardiness: 0 F
A variegated bamboo with large thick leaves, striped boldly in green, cream and white. Prefers partial sun.

Sasaella Ramosa
Typical Height: 3 feet
Typical Diameter: 1/4 inch
Hardiness: -5 F
Prefers light shade. Very drought resistant and cold hardy. Vigorous runner used for erosion control. Looks best when sheared annually.

Semiarundinaria fastuosa (Red Fastuosa)
Hardiness: -5 F
Maximum Height: 20 feet
Maximum Diameter: Up to 1.5 inch
Stiffly erect habit with brick red culms. Good hedge plant.

Semiarundinaria fastuosa viridis
Hardiness: -5 F
Maximum Height: 35 feet
Maximum Diameter: Up to 1.5 inch
Very similar to Semiarundinaria fastuosa, except culms remain green.

Shibatea kumasaca (Ruscus Leaved Bamboo)
Hardiness: 10 F
Typical Height: 7 feet
Typical Diameter: 1/4 inch
Short attractive leaves on slightly zig-zag stem. A distinctive looking bamboo. Intolerant of alkaline soils. Prefers partial sun.

Clumping Bamboos

Bambusa multiplex (Fernleaf)
Hardiness: 12 F
Typical Height: 12 feet
Typical Diameter: 1/2 inch
Full sun. Similar to a fern with small leaves and yellow culms. Good for hedges.

Fargesia murielae (Umbrella Bamboo)
Hardiness: -20 F
Typical Height: 12 feet
Typical Diameter: 1/2 inch
Looks best with some afternoon shade. Culms are gold color with delicate leaves and nice weeping habit.

Fargesia nitida (Blue Fountain Bamboo)
Hardiness: -20 F
Typical Height: 10-12 feet
Typical Diameter: 1/2 inch
Green culms covered with bluish-white powder when young, and can turn dark purplish with some sun exposure. Prefers some afternoon shade. Slow growing to start and culms will arch with age.

Thamnocalumus Tessellatus (Bergmamboes)
Hardiness: 0 F
Typical Height: 16 feet
Typical Diameter: 1 inch
Takes full sun and is native to South Africa. Has interesting looking culms and is similar to Fargesia.

Bamboo Price List

Home

12713 N.E. 184th Street
Battle Ground, WA 98604
Phone: 360.687.5167
Fax: 360.687.1212

bamboo@viewcrest.com

	Phyllostachys aurea (Golden Bamboo) Hardiness: 0 F Typical Height: 15-20 feet Typical Diameter: Up to 1.5 inches Grows rigidly upright and is one of the strongest and most useful bamboos. Good for hedges and along driveways and paths. Culm color is green, but often turns yellow in direct sunlight and can have distorted nodes at the base.
	Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow Groove) Hardiness: -15 F Typical Height: Up to 26 feet Typical Diameter: Up to 1.5 inches This is one of the hardiest bamboos and also grows rigidly upright. It has a yellow stripe on a green culm and often has rigid kinks near the base. Good along driveways and paths.
	Phyllostachys aureosulcata alata (Crookstem Bamboo) Hardiness: -10 F Maximum Height: 30 feet Diameter: 2 inches This is the green form of Yellow Groove Bamboo. It has bends at the base of the culms, giving this plant its common name.
	Phyllostachys aureosulcata spectabilis Hardiness: -10 F Typical Height: 23 - 26 feet Diameter: 1-1.5 inches Best looking color if grown in full sun. This is the opposite form of Phyllostachys aureosulcata. Spectabilis has yellow culms with a green sulcas. In the spring the sun exposed culms and edible new shoots have a bright red flush. Wind tolerant. Excellent for containers.
	Pyllostachys bambusoides (Madake or Japanese Timber Bamboo) Hardiness: 0 F Height: Up to 72 feet Diameter: Up to 6 inches One of the strongest temperate timber bamboos with large, straight thick-walled culms. Stands up better than most bamboo in the snow. One of the latest to shoot.
	Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillonis' Hardiness: 5 F Height: 35 feet Diameter: Up to 2 inches This bamboo flowered in the 1960s and all plants in the United States and Europe perished. Seeds were saved in Germany and propagated and introduced back into the United States by The ABS. Still somewhat rare. This bamboo is one of the most beautiful.
	Phyllostachys bissetti (Bissetti) Hardiness: -15 F Typical Height: 23 feet Typical Diameter: 1 inch One of the first bamboos to shoot in the spring with greener leaves and culms than aurea. Very hardy with strong culms and a dense canopy. Fast to establish and makes an excellent hedge or windbreak.
	Phyllostachys meyeri (Meyer Bamboo) Hardiness: 0 F Typical Height: 33 feet Typical Diameter: 2 inch Full sun. Culms turn green to tawny gold. Makes excellent canes. Well suited for the Northwest.
	Phyllostachys nigra (Black Bamboo) Hardiness: 0 F Typical Height: 20-30 feet Typical Diameter: Up to 2 inches Beautiful bamboo with shiny black culms and delicate leaves. New culms emerge green and turn black in a couple of years.
	Phyllostachys nigra 'Bory ' Hardiness: 0 F Maximum Height: 50 feet Maximum Diameter: 3 inches Full sun. Larger variety of Black Bamboo which develops mahogony mottling on culms. Works well for teahouse rafters, utensils and flutes.
	Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon' Hardiness: 0 F Maximum Height: 50 feet Maximum Diameter: 3.5 inches One of the largest bamboos in the Pacific Northwest, with stronger wood than vivax. Has great tasting shoots.
	Pyllostachys nuda (Nude Sheath or Timber Bamboo) Hardiness: -20 F Typical Height: 20 to 34 feet Typical Diameter: 1.75 inches One of the most hardy running bamboos. New culms are a dark bluish-green with powdery white rings at the nodes. Produces tasty shoots early. Easy to grow and ideal for hedges.
	Phyllostachys rubromarginata (Rubro) Hardiness: -5 F Maximum Height: 55 feet Typical Diameter: 2.75 inches Plant is wind resistant and very strong. Splits well for excellent wood. Produces good quality shoots and has large leaves. Works well for a third story screen.
	Phyllostachys vivax Hardiness: -5 F Maximum Height: 70 feet Maximum Diameter: 5 inches One of the hardiest timber bamboos. Fast to establish with striking good looks. Some of the best eating shoots.
	Pleioblastus distichus (Dwarf Bamboo) Height: 2 feet Hardiness: 10 F A good groundcover or container plant.
	Pleioblastus pumilis Typical Height: 3 to 4 feet Hardiness: -10 F Dwarf running bamboo with mahogony culms. Drought tolerant and hardy. Full sun.
	Pleioblastus pygmaeus (Pygmy Bamboo) Height: 1 feet Hardiness: 10 F One of the smallest bamboos, looks best when sheared before new spring growth. Very mite resistant because of hairy undersides of leaves.
	Pleioblastus shibuyanus 'Tsuboi' Typical Height: 6 feet Hardiness: 0 F A mounding dwarf with variegated leaves and interesting blending from white to green. Prefers partial shade.
	Pleioblastus variegatus (Dwarf Whitestripe Bamboo) Height: 4 feet Hardiness: -10 F Bold white on green variegated leaves. Tends to keep variegation all year.
	Pleioblastus viridi-striatus (Dwarf Greenstripe) Hardiness: -5 F Typical Height: 3 feet Typical Diameter: .25 inch Golden Yellow leaves with green striping. Shear to ground before spring for a flush of brilliant color. Good container plant. Prefers shade to do best.
	Pseudosasa japonica (Japanese Arrow Bamboo) Maximum Height: 18 feet Hardiness: 0 F Grows well indoors or out. Good for screen or in tubs. Leaves can grow to 13" long.
	Sasa palmata Height: 2-10 feet Hardiness:5 F Leaves are 2-4 inches wide and can grow to 14 inches long. Grows well under trees.
	Sasaella Masumeana albostriata (Fuiri - Shiyazasa) Typical Height: 6 feet Typical Diameter: 1/4 inch Hardiness: 0 F A variegated bamboo with large thick leaves, striped boldly in green, cream and white. Prefers partial sun.
	Sasaella Ramosa Typical Height: 3 feet Typical Diameter: 1/4 inch Hardiness: -5 F Prefers light shade. Very drought resistant and cold hardy. Vigorous runner used for erosion control. Looks best when sheared annually.
	Semiarundinaria fastuosa (Red Fastuosa) Hardiness: -5 F Maximum Height: 20 feet Maximum Diameter: Up to 1.5 inch Stiffly erect habit with brick red culms. Good hedge plant.
	Semiarundinaria fastuosa viridis Hardiness: -5 F Maximum Height: 35 feet Maximum Diameter: Up to 1.5 inch Very similar to Semiarundinaria fastuosa, except culms remain green.
	Shibatea kumasaca (Ruscus Leaved Bamboo) Hardiness: 10 F Typical Height: 7 feet Typical Diameter: 1/4 inch Short attractive leaves on slightly zig-zag stem. A distinctive looking bamboo. Intolerant of alkaline soils. Prefers partial sun.

	Bambusa multiplex (Fernleaf) Hardiness: 12 F Typical Height: 12 feet Typical Diameter: 1/2 inch Full sun. Similar to a fern with small leaves and yellow culms. Good for hedges.
	Fargesia murielae (Umbrella Bamboo) Hardiness: -20 F Typical Height: 12 feet Typical Diameter: 1/2 inch Looks best with some afternoon shade. Culms are gold color with delicate leaves and nice weeping habit.
	Fargesia nitida (Blue Fountain Bamboo) Hardiness: -20 F Typical Height: 10-12 feet Typical Diameter: 1/2 inch Green culms covered with bluish-white powder when young, and can turn dark purplish with some sun exposure. Prefers some afternoon shade. Slow growing to start and culms will arch with age.
	Thamnocalumus Tessellatus (Bergmamboes) Hardiness: 0 F Typical Height: 16 feet Typical Diameter: 1 inch Takes full sun and is native to South Africa. Has interesting looking culms and is similar to Fargesia.