Solved Bamboo Identification

I bought this bamboo a couple of days ago. The guy at the garden centre said it would not get much taller and wouldn’t spread much.

I called them today to find out what type of bamboo it was but he was t around. I’m really small garden centre and the girl who answered didn’t have a clue.

Can anyone ID from these pics?

Thanks

 

I would say Phyllostachys aurea (golden bamboo) it's quite popular.

 

That was my initial thought. Only the one golden stem but it’s young.

I’ve read that this is clump forming in uk climate?

 

Yes I think it is.I had one in a large pot some years ago it looked well and had some nice thick canes.

 

I think I will keep it in a large pot. Too risky putting it into the ground.

 

Absolutely. I planted a little Aurea in one of my previous properties and it was lovely for 5 years then it sprouted everywhere and I mean everywhere,neighbours gardens et al. I sold the house. I'm never very sure about what bamboos are safe to plant in open ground so I always plant them in large builders rubble tubs.

 

Has anyone ever tried growing non running/clumping varieties from seed?

Bamboo is expensive.

 

phyllostachys Aureus is definitely a runner. Grew it here...a couple in different parts of the garden a few years back....and within a season was running everywhere.
I know some folk grow it without apparent problems but it is not worth the risk.

 

What litre tub would this be happy in long term?

Would this be ok?

I got a huge gap I need to fill and this would work well.

 

Drill drainage holes and it would be fine as a container.
For long term planting though use a John innes compost.
Ericaceous subjects like azaleas, rhodos, camellias, pieris etc. would also grow in such a container

 

I assume the advice against using plastic containers is referring to brittle pots?

Everything I’ve read says wood or metal

 

Plastic tends to crack over time. The builders tubs I use have a high rubber content which seems to avoid this.

 

Is it a older tub you have?

Over the last couple of years they are not made as they used to be. Don’t last a day on site, used to last months.

 

Yea. Mine is at least 10 years old. I was in a builders merchant earlier this morning and the ones they were selling appeared to be just plastic. As you say, quite different from my old one.

 

I might try and find a old water tank