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Ornamental Bamboos And Grasses |
This foliage usually persists until
towards the end of the year but fresh leaves are produced early
in the spring. Although it is of a tufted habit and therefore
needs plenty of space, it can easily be kept to its allotted space
by cutting the extra tufts out.
Bambusa metake is perhaps the commonest of all hardy
bamboos, although it should be correctly referred to as
Arundinaria japonica. It is especially suitable for growing in
town gardens and has broad glossy leaves eight inches or more
in length, which emerge from the brownish sheaths. These
continue to remain on the stems, in fact often seem to enwrap
them, thus producing the typical familiar bamboo appearance.
Arundinaria nitida is of dainty appearance, its smallish
leaves growing on stems six to eight feet high. It does best
in partial shade and is of special value in that it remains of
compact growth.
A. murielae is very similar but perhaps a
little hardier with a compact habit, the rather larger foliage
being a lighter green. Where a warm situation can be pro-
vided, A. anceps does very well and grows ten feet or more
high. Excepting that it is taller growing, it is very similar to
A. nitida.
A. simonii from China and Japan is very hardy and most at
home where its roots can run about at will, its broad vivid
green leaves are sometimes striped with white. Occasionally
it flowers, and whilst this can lead to the plant perishing,
certainly they do not always die after blooming.
The cane reed of the United States is A. macrosperma. It
is perfectly hardy and makes dense growth, but unfortunately,
it seems difficult to establish in Britain.
No arundinarias will flourish in deep shade, although they
will do well in dappled light, such as can be found in thin
woodland or in places where other tall-growing subjects are to
be seen at the pool or stream side.
When the arundinarias have been left in position for a
number of years, they are usually rather difficult to divide.
The thick mat of roots which the plants make, becomes very
hard and it is often necessary to use a strong implement such
as a pickaxe to cut the roots into suitable pieces for propa-
gating. The fact that the best time to divide bamboos is in
the spring, does mean that the roots recover quickly from the
wounds they receive when such divisions have to be made.
Generally speaking, phyllostachys are of less spreading habit
than the arundinarias, and are ideal plants for smaller gardens.
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