Sheath Bamboo

Sheath Bamboo, Nuda Bamboo

Phyllostachys nuda

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ ▼ stems showing ring of white hairs at each node, which is an identifying characteristic for this bamboo

Location near campus: Japanese Stroll Garden, near south wall and Zen garden area

Phyllostachya nuda: Sheath Bamboo

• Asian warm-season, running (creeping perennial) bamboo similar to yellow-groove bamboo that can grow 15-30’ tall
• Stems emerge yellow-green and turn more yellow with age, maturing to a diameter of 1/2 to 2" (usually toward the smaller diameter in Missouri)
• Leaves are dark-green, short and wide, about 1/2 inch and 3-6 inche long on short branchlets off of main stems--has smaller leaves than other hardy Phyllostachya species
• Leaf blades are semi-evergreen to evergreen and persist for up to several years
• Stems are perennial, becoming woody within the first year
• Plants may take 3-4 years to establish before they begin their rampant spread
• Spreads by vigorous rhizomes which may grow 10-30’ away from original clump each year after the 3-4 year lag time to become established
• New shoots appear each spring, growing wider and taller in good spring growing conditions
• Unwanted shoots are easily mowed down & do not reappear until next spring’s growth flush, but the rhizomes can be covering a very wide area under ground
• Prefers moist fertile soils, full-sun to part shade; can tolerate drier soils, but with smaller growth
• Seldom flowers--may take decades--then all flowering stalks will die, but colony does not usually die
• Cold hardy to Zone 5