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
-
One of the most popular bamboo plants in the United States. It can reach heights of 30 feet but more typically it is in the 10-20 foot range. It can spread aggressively so plant it carefully and keep it contained. Planting between hardscape elements helps with this so it makes an excellent screening or privacy hedge for a driveway or walkway planting.
Short swollen internodes at the base of the culms are a characteristic used to distinguish Golden bamboo from other bamboos. 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. Flowers and seeds are rarely produced.
This plant spreads aggressively by rhizomes and has escaped gardens. It is listed as invasive in several states in the USA 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
- 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'
- 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'
- Tags:
-
-
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 Grass
- 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:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
-
-
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:
- 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. Leaves have a blade and petiole fused to the stem forming a sheath.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- 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:
- Landscape Location:
- Pool/Hardscape
- Walkways
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
