Golden Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Golden Bamboo:
Previously known as:
- Phyllostachys breviligula
- Phyllostachys formosana
- Phonetic Spelling
- fy-lo-STAK-iss AW-re-uh
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Golden bamboo is an invasive evergreen plant in the grass. family. It can reach heights of 30 feet but more typically it is in the 10-20 foot range. The plant was introduced to AL in 1882 as a landscape plant but has escaped gardens and spread aggressively. Despite efforts to contain it in hardscape, it tends to find a way out.
Short swollen internodes bunched at the base of the culms are characteristic of this bamboo. Most canes will have uniformly spaced sections (internodes) as the swollen internode trait only occurs on some canes. Culms (stems) are light green with a white node ring, turning more yellow if exposed to direct sun and with age. Flowers and seeds are rarely produced. The green leaves are up to 6 inches long and often grow in a fan shape alternately on the hollow stems.
This plant spreads aggressively by rhizomes and will form large stands preventing native plants to grow. It is listed as invasive in several states, by the NC Invasive Plant Council and several countries in the world.
Please consider planting native plants instead.
Quick ID Hints:
- Clump forming bamboo
- Stems flattened on one side
- Glaucous ring below each node
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Dr. Don'
Young canes are bright blue - 'Flavescens Inversa'
Green canes gold stripes - 'Holochrysa'
Gold canes - 'Koi'
Gold cane green stripe
- 'Dr. Don'
- 'Dr. Don', 'Flavescens Inversa', 'Holochrysa', 'Koi'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dr. Don'
Young canes are bright blue - 'Flavescens Inversa'
Green canes gold stripes - 'Holochrysa'
Gold canes - 'Koi'
Gold cane green stripe
- 'Dr. Don'
- 'Dr. Don', 'Flavescens Inversa', 'Holochrysa', 'Koi'
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phyllostachys
- Species:
- aurea
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Canes used in flooring, making fishing poles, ski poles, javelins, umbrella and fan handles and furniture.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China to Vietnam
- Edibility:
- Young shoots are edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Perennial
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- Rarely formed
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Rarely flowers. Grass-like blooms if it does.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Papery
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lanceolate leaves are 3-7" long and 2" wide and are hairy at the bases and lower midribs. Leaves have a blade and petiole fused to the stem forming a sheath. Leaves often grow in a fan shape
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Description:
- Hollow green culms turn yellow in the sun as they mature and have a white node ring. Some canes have swollen internodes bunched up together at the bottom. Stems are flattened on one side and have a glaucous ring below every node.
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
