Chocolate Bamboo

We encountered this beautiful Bamboo on our China trip through northeastern Yunnan province where it was grown and used extensively for weaving. A relatively recent introduction to the US, this Bamboo is a mountaine species where it grows from 6,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation. It is a medium small sized clumping bamboo that has 12 to 15 feet tall narrow dark reddish brown culms that rise vertically, then bend over gracefully under the weight of the foliage, which emerges from clusters of branchlets at the upper culm joints. Culm sheaths are pale pinkish in color and add to the beauty of this plant. Plant in full to part sun along coast and protect with shade inland. This Bamboo is hardy to 15 F and is a must have for any bamboo collector!