James H. Schutte
Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
BAMBUSA oldhamii
Plant Common Name
Clumping Bamboo, Giant Timber Bamboo, Oldham's Bamboo
General Description
Giant timber bamboo is a clumping bamboo native to China and Taiwan. All bamboos are grasses with woody-type stems called culms which are divided into sections and also produce thin branches. Giant timber bamboo has huge, thick, upright culms that are smooth with no teeth or spines and are mostly hollow. The culms are pale green to dark green. The dark green leaves are linear to lance-shaped and produced in pairs, many pairs are crowded on the branches. Giant timber bamboo is a very leafy bamboo. Bamboo flowering is unusual, the flowers are similar to other grasses and the fruits grain-like, but the conditions and age of the plant for flowering is not completely understood. Flowering seems to occur between two and seven years of age and many bamboos decline and some die after flowering.
Giant timber bamboo is a tropical grass, prefers moist, well-drained soil and full sun. It is somewhat cold hardy and will take temperatures just below freezing. The spread of this bamboo is slow, the rhizomes or underground stems grow only a short distance from the clump before sending up new culms, which is rapid in warm, moist soil. One of the most popular bamboos in cultivation, giant timber bamboo is a great plant for screens. In the coolest part of its hardiness range, this bamboo may only reach 10 feet (3 m) in height. Protect this plant from drying winds.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 11
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Grass
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
10'-65' / 3.0m - 19.8m
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Native To
China
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
None
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Bark Color
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
Yes
