Wild Cane

Wild Cane

Arundinaria gigantea

Poaceae - The Grass Family

▲ ▼ colony of wild cane

▲ individual stalk of wild cane

Arundinaria gigantea: Wild Cane, Wild Bamboo

Location in Springfield: several locations in Dickerson Park Zoo on north side of town.

• running (creeping perennial) warm-season bamboo grass that forms thick rhizomes to form colonies with age
• stems are 1/2 to about 11/2 inch in diameter and 5-25 feet tall, usually greenish [yellow-groove bamboo (see below) is similar, but has thicker, taller and more yellow-colored stems]
• leaf blades are short and broad (1/2-3/4" wide by 3-6" long) on short, stiff, branched side-stems coming off main upright stems
• Prefers part sun to moderate shade, but can tolerate full sun
• Prefers moist soils--found along rivers, streams, springs in Missouri, but can tolerate upland soils with adequate moisture; prefers fertile soils as well
• Will spread into lawns or in landscape beds--needs to be confined by wide expanse of pavement to keep from spreading beyond desired area
• May take 50-100 years for a colony to flower, then flowering stems die, but usually entire colony doesn’t die
• Prefers moist, semi-shady sites; found along creeks, rivers, springs
• Native to Missouri