Low Country Bamboo
843.754.1094
Charleston, SC
Medium Height: 15-30 feet
Alphonse Karr
Bambusa Multiplex "Alphonse Karr"
This is a fairly fast growing erect bamboo. It is characterized by green stripes on a bright yellow culm. The bottom branches can be pruned to reveal the elegant culms (as pictured). It can also make a great hedge.
Bottom line: One of the most cold hardy clumping bamboos which can be used for screening, hedging, or as a focal point.
Asian Lemon
Bambusa Eutuldoides "Viridivittata"
This is a fast growing erect bamboo. It is characterized by green stripes on a bright yellow culm, similar to Alphonse Karr. Branching is at all levels of the plant, giving it great potential for use as a taller hedge. The jury is still out on the final height in our area (may exceed 25 feet), but time will tell. Also, it's not as not as cold hard as the Alphonse Karr, It defoliated with an extended cold snap of 19 degrees and strong winds, but came back with new growth from the ground (existing culms died).
Bottom line: A fast growing and ornamental bamboo which can be used for screening, hedging, or as a focal point.
Grown naturally, the bamboo will reach outward and weep to create the “goddess” effect. Its growth is characterized by a larger quantity of shoots as opposed to height, and therefore is a very popular bamboo for hedges. As the bamboo is "topped", more branching with leaves will appear at lower nodes on the culmns. Combine this with a high density of culmns,and you have a beautiful thick hedge (pictured here and in pictures at top of page).
Bottom line: One of the most cold hardy clumping bamboos which makes a great hedge.
Golden Goddess
Bambusa Multiplex "Golden Goddess"
Green Alphonse Karr
Bambusa Multiplex "Midori Green"
This clumping bamboo is very similar to Alphonse Karr, only with dark green stripes on a light green culm (vs a yellow culm).
Bottom line: Great for screening or hedging.
Malaysian Black
Gigantochloa
This clumping bamboo is a very nice smaller ornamental specimen. The new culms start out green changing to black over time while leaving some green stripes. The leaves are large and the culmns arch out a fair bit adding to it's striking appearance. Since it's not that cold hardy, it's best suited as a container plant in the Charleston region.
Bottom line: A great choice for an ornamental container bamboo.
R.G. Dwarf
Bambusa Textillis "RG Dwarf""
This clumping bamboo is a shorter version of Graceful, with a maximum height of about 18 feet. With a culm size of up to 2 inches, it is a charming bamboo due to its larger culm size for its height.
Bottom Line: Great for either medium height screening, hedging, or as a focal point.
Silverstripe Corkscrew
Bambusa Multiplex "Silverstripe Corkscrew"
This clumping bamboo is defined by it's irregular shaped culms. They grow in a spiraling manner, hence "corkscrew".
This bamboo is quite stunning in spring when new leaves emerge since these leaves are variegated. However, the variegation fades over time.
Bottom Line: Great for a medium height focal point.
This clumping bamboo is similar to Golden Goddess, but is slightly taller and appears to fair somewhat better with less sunlight. It also produces a high density of culms.
Bottom line: One of the most cold hardy clumping bamboos which makes a great screen or hedge.
