Phyllostachys

Bamboo Genera
Written By Stéphane Schröder

61 Species

Phyllostachys comes from 'phyllon', meaning leaf, and 'stachys', meaning spike. In China, where this bamboo grows native, it is also called Gangzhu Shu, meaning firm bamboo genus.

Phyllostachys belongs to the tribe Arundinarieae, which are temperate woody bamboos. Culms usually have a tendency to zigzag from node to node and are distinguished by a pronounced groove in the culm above each branch-bearing node. Because of this groove (called sulcus) it is one of the most easily identifiable genera of bamboo. The branches open from top to bottom, generally in sub-equal pairs at each node, with a smaller branch between. In general, the culm sheaths fall off quickly.

The Phyllostachys genus include many resistant species with excellent mechanical properties of importance to human economy. In China, this genus is the principal source of paper pulp, major source for construction and handicrafts, and an important source for edible shoots.

phyllostachys-distribution-map.jpeg

Phyllostachys is a temperate bamboo but also grows in semi-tropical climates, therefore it is widely cultivated around the world. Most of the species require full sun and spread aggressively (runners).

Did You Know?

The Chinese Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) was first introduced in Alabama, USA in 1882. That same year, Thomas Edison began his first light-bulb factory using carbonized bamboo filaments.

There are 61 species and approximately 140 varieties and cultivars of Phyllostachys. Most species are frost resistant.

Phyllostachys Species List

SpeciesOriginDiameterHeight
Phyllostachys acutaChina Southeast∅ 60 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys acutiligulaChina Southeast
Phyllostachys albidulaChina Southeast
Phyllostachys angustaChina Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys arcanaChina North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast∅ 30 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys atrovaginataChina Southeast∅ 50 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys aureaChina Southeast, Vietnam∅ 30 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys aureosulcataChina Southeast∅ 30 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys bissetiiChina South-Central, China Southeast∅ 25 mm⇑ 7 m
Phyllostachys carneaChina Southeast∅ 15 mm⇑ 2,5 m
Phyllostachys circumpilisChina Southeast∅ 45 mm⇑ 7 m
Phyllostachys comparChina Southeast
Phyllostachys corrugataChina Southeast∅ 30 mm⇑ 4 m
Phyllostachys dulcisChina Southeast∅ 60 mm⇑ 10 m
Phyllostachys edulisChina North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Taiwan∅ 180 mm⇑ 27 m
Phyllostachys elegansChina Southeast, Hainan∅ 30 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys fimbriligulaChina Southeast∅ 50 mm⇑ 9 m
Phyllostachys flexuosaChina North-Central, China Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 5 m
Phyllostachys funhuaensisChina Southeast
Phyllostachys glabrataChina Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 7 m
Phyllostachys glaucaChina North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast∅ 50 mm⇑ 12 m
Phyllostachys heterocladaChina North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast∅ 30 mm ⇑ 4 m
Phyllostachys hirtivaginaChina Southeast∅ 30 mm ⇑ 5 m
Phyllostachys incarnataChina Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 6 m
Phyllostachys iridescensChina Southeast∅ 70 mm⇑ 10 m
Phyllostachys kwangsiensisChina Southeast∅ 100 mm⇑ 16 m
Phyllostachys lofushanensisChina Southeast∅ 20 mm⇑ 3 m
Phyllostachys longiciliataChina Southeast
Phyllostachys makinoiChina Southeast, Taiwan∅ 90 mm⇑ 18 m
Phyllostachys manniiAssam, East Himalaya, Myanmar, West Himalaya∅ 60 mm⇑ 12 m
Phyllostachys meyeriChina South-Central, China Southeast∅ 45 mm⇑ 10 m
Phyllostachys microphyllaChina Southeast
Phyllostachys nidulariaChina North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast∅ 50 mm⇑ 10 m
Phyllostachys nigellaChina Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 7 m
Phyllostachys nigraChina South-Central, China Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 7 m
Phyllostachys nudaChina Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 9 m
Phyllostachys parvifoliaChina Southeast∅ 50 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys platyglossaChina Southeast∅ 35 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys primotinaChina Southeast
Phyllostachys prominensChina Southeast∅ 70 mm⇑ 10 m
Phyllostachys propinquaChina South-Central, China Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 7 m
Phyllostachys purpureociliataChina Southeast∅ 45 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys reticulataChina North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast∅ 150 mm⇑ 20 m
Phyllostachys rivalisChina Southeast∅ 20 mm⇑ 4 m
Phyllostachys robustirameaChina Southeast∅ 60 mm⇑ 10 m
Phyllostachys rubicundaChina Southeast∅ 45 mm⇑ 6 m
Phyllostachys rubromarginataChina South-Central, China Southeast∅ 25 mm⇑ 3,5 m
Phyllostachys rutilaChina Southeast∅ 50 mm⇑ 11 m
Phyllostachys shuchengensisChina South-Central, China Southeast∅ 35 mm⇑ 10 m
Phyllostachys stimulosaChina Southeast∅ 34 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys sulphureaChina North-Central, China Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys tianmuensisChina Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 8 m
Phyllostachys varioauriculataChina Southeast∅ 30 mm⇑ 4 m
Phyllostachys veitchianaChina South-Central∅ 25 mm⇑ 5 m
Phyllostachys verrucosaChina Southeast∅ 12 mm⇑ 3 m
Phyllostachys violascensChina Southeast∅ 20 mm⇑ 4 m
Phyllostachys virellaChina Southeast∅ 50 mm⇑ 9 m
Phyllostachys viridiglaucescensChina Southeast∅ 50 mm⇑ 10 m
Phyllostachys vivaxChina North-Central, China Southeast∅ 80 mm⇑ 15 m
Phyllostachys yunhoensisChina Southeast∅ 40 mm⇑ 6 m
Phyllostachys zhejiangensisChina Southeast

Source: Kew Science

Common Names for Phyllostachys Species

Bamboo growers and garden books frequently refer to bamboos by their 'common names'. Below you'll find a table with the most common names for Phyllostachys and their correct scientific names.

More common names in English can be found here: Common Bamboo Names.

Common NameBotanical Name
Black BambooPhyllostachys nigra
Golden BambooPhyllostachys aurea
Golden Golden BambooPhyllostachys aurea 'Holochrysa'
Japanese Timber BambooPhyllostachys reticulata
Madake BambooPhyllostachys reticulata
Moso BambooPhyllostachys edulis
Stone BambooPhyllostachys angusta & P. nuda
Sweetshoot BambooPhyllostachys dulcis
Tortoise Shell BambooPhyllostachys edulis 'Heterocycla'
Water BambooPhyllostachys heteroclada
Yellow Groove BambooPhyllostachys aureosulcata
Stéphane Schröder

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